AN Australian and Victorian titleholder in boxing, Bendigo teenager Ryan Polglaise will chase Golden Gloves glory this Saturday on Queensland’s Bribie Island.<\/p>\n
The 16-year-old will compete in the light heavyweight (80kg) division for 15-17 years.<\/p>\n
In less than nine months of amateur boxing, Polglaise has claimed the Australian Amateur Boxing League and Victorian ABL title belts.<\/p>\n
The state title was won at Eaglehawk’s Truscott Reserve.<\/p>\n
Now it’s Golden Gloves he is after.<\/p>\n
The talented teenager and trainer Lucas Allen have put in many hours to build strength, fitness and develop his boxing craft.<\/p>\n
“Golden Gloves carries a lot of prestige,” Allen said after another gruelling workout with his young charge at Bendigo Fight Centre in Golden Square.<\/p>\n
It’s been an incredible run by Polglaise since he first stepped through the doors of the Allingham Street gym.<\/p>\n
“My main goal when I started at the gym was to lose weight.”<\/p>\n
It’s been a remarkable transformation from tipping the scales at 120kg when he was 14 to now be one of the country’s emerging talents in the boxing world.<\/p>\n
“I started with one personal training session with Lucas and then just wanted to do more workouts and join the Fighters’ Squad.”<\/p>\n
The unbeaten boxer now trains six days a week at BFC.<\/p>\n
“There’s three sessions per day. It’s an early start with Marcus for strength and conditioning, a break, and then training with Lucas.”<\/p>\n
After helping out with the Youth boxing program, Polglaise then has another evening training session.<\/p>\n
It’s not just striking the bag and pads that he does.<\/p>\n
Plenty of running has helped build cardio strength.<\/p>\n
“I really enjoy the training and helping out around the gym.”<\/p>\n
There are plenty in Polglaise’s corner and following his progress.<\/p>\n
Greatest supporters are parents Kyal and Teghan.<\/p>\n
Another keen supporter is Ryan’s girlfriend, Chilli.<\/p>\n
“Encouragement from family, friends and all at the gym means so much.”<\/p>\n
Polglaise’s boxing journey is helped along by sponsors Kazz & Co, Outside Box, Nugget Finder, IronTide Bendigo, Royale Roofing and Waterproofing.<\/p>\n
“Their support is incredible.”<\/p>\n
“Golden Gloves is another step toward a goal to represent Australia.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
AN Australian and Victorian titleholder in boxing, Bendigo teenager Ryan Polglaise will chase Golden Gloves glory this Saturday on Queensland’s Bribie Island. The 16-year-old will compete in the light heavyweight (80kg) division for 15-17 years. In less than nine months of amateur boxing, Polglaise has claimed the Australian Amateur Boxing League and Victorian ABL title […]<\/p>\n