The 2015 OCBC Oceania Confederation Boxing Championships begins its first competition day on 29 August in Canberra, as the competition is held in Australia for the third time in a row.

Nine nations have registered to compete in the championships, where the local organisers are expecting the participation of over 38 top class boxers. There are 18 quota places for Doha 2015 on offer for the competing athletes, with one quota available at 49 kg and 52 kg, and two in each weight class from 56 kg to +91 kg.

“I would like to sincerely thank Boxing Australia for hosting our championships and I look forward to seeing great matches from the top Oceanian boxers” said Oceania Boxing Confederation President Ted Tanner.

Hosts Australia have registered with the maximum number of boxers, while their main rivals New Zealand are expected to compete with nine boxers.

Fiji, Nauru and Vanuatu have also registered to take part in the championships, which is the second significant Oceania boxing event of the summer after the 2015 Pacific Games.

Many of the best talent from the region will be fighting for the gold medals, with Australian duo Daniel Lewis and Joseph Goodall expected to impress their local supporters, while New Zealand’s David Nyika and Fiji’s Winston Hill are also top favourites.

The first edition of the Oceania Boxing Championships was held in Sydney in 1969, and since then New Zealand, Tahiti, New Caledonia, Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands, Fiji and Papua New Guinea have also hosted the continental event.

Legendary past winners include Australia’s Robert Peden, Michael Katsidis, Richard Rowles and Damien Hooper, New Zealand’s Michael Kenny, David Tua and Shane Cameron, and Tonga’s Paea Wolfgramm.

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