TAMWORTH’S first-ever amateur and professional boxing fight night will light up the Tamworth Jockey Club tonight as a host of locals and visitors go toe to toe in the ninth edition of the Battle of the Bush.
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The Rumble at the Racecourse will include a NSW middleweight title fight between Gunnedah’s Wade Ryan and Wollongong’s Adrian Campbell.
Ryan will be defending the NSW middleweight belt he won in Dubbo earlier in the year.
A huge undercard, including two more title fights, will get the evening started as well as a charity exhibition bout between a couple of local publicans.
Fighters from local gyms Fighting Arts, Westside, Fight Shed and Gunnedah’s Black and Blue will all take part as well as plenty of others in the 12-bout undercard.
Organiser Ben Burrage has seven fighters on the card from Fighting Arts and has been busy helping them adjust to pure boxing, with all of them Muay Thai fighters.
“There is a big difference with stance and movements but the fitness is the same,” Burrage said.
“It is a bit unusual for us to box but some legislation changes have made it that way this time.
“Hopefully it goes well and we can make it an annual event.”
Burrage said the main event would be a top fight, but is more excited about his charge Sam Barnett’s title fight against Armidale’s Clarrisa Edwards.
Barnett hopes she can remember to box only but is confident she can claim the vacant belt.
“Training has been a bit different,” Barnett said.
“I would rather Muay Thai but it is good to have a go and battle through it.”
Veteran Tamworth trainer Mike Abra is hoping for five wins from five fights as his boxers take up a good section of the undercard as well.
Brad Way will contest the other title fight, with all five Westside fighters returning from wins at a big event at Cobar last weekend.
“These boys all have a good following now so I think we will get a huge crowd,” Abra said.
“None of them have easy fights but I would like to take five wins.”
At some stage the crowd will get to cheer for their local publican as The Albert’s Nick Weir and The Pub Group’s Andrew Walsh lock horns for a few rounds with the big gloves, with money raised going to local charity.
Tickets are available from The Albert, which will host the after-party, as well as from the venue, with doors opening at 5.30pm for a 6.30pm first round.
