Corey Miller, left, Brooke Miller, trainer Daniel Miller and Austin Butler. PHOTO/MILLER BOXING
BOXING
CHRIS COGDALE
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A young Wairarapa boxer had the golden touch at a major boxing tournament in Taupo over Queen’s Birthday Weekend.
Eleven-year-old Brooke Miller from the Masterton Young Citizens’ Boxing Club defeated Isabella Parkes from Whanganui on a unanimous points decision in the girls’ junior 34kg class at the North Island Golden Gloves tournament, the second-ranked tournament in New Zealand.
Trainer Daniel Miller, who is her uncle, said Brooke controlled the bout from the first bell.
“She used her left jab well and stepped back to avoid Parkes who kept pushing forward.”
“It’s the first time in 10 or so years that anyone from Wairarapa has won a Golden Gloves, and the first time that a female has ever won.”
Daniel Miller said the pint-sized boxer had some lofty ambitions.
“Brooke’s goal is to try and beat the five Golden Gloves titles her dad, Corey, won.”
The young boxer could not be in better hands.
Daniel Miller had a storied career in amateur and professional boxing.
As an amateur, he had a long and successful career. He had 88 fights, gaining four junior titles and one intermediate title.
He also won a bronze medal at the 2003 Oceania Championships. Miller later turned professional, winning four of his six fights.
Another young Masterton boxer, Austin Butler, 13, lost in the semifinals of the junior boys’ 44kg class on a split decision to Alex Cole from Hastings who went on to win the title.
“Austin was unlucky to lose to the eventual winner and a lot of the crowd commented that he should have won,” Daniel Miller said.
Butler’s next major tournament will be the national championships in Hastings in October.
However, Brooke won’t be competing at the nationals because there’s no category for her age group.
