The first day of Commonwealth Games competition got underway today and two Australian boxers were victorious in their first-round match-ups.
In the day session, 25-year-old Terry Nickolas from South Australia put on an impressive performance to win a decision over Carl Hield of Bahamas in the Men’s 69kg division. Nickolas mixed it up with body shots and in particular a strong uppercut to get the decision on all five judges cards. What made the win even more impressive is that Hield was a 2010 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist and was competing in his third Commonwealth Games games.
Nickolas moves on to face Thabiso Selby Dlamini from Swaziland in the next round, scheduled on Saturday. Dlamini had a bye in the opening round of 32.
Equally impressive was 20-year-old Harry Garside from Victoria who in the Mens Under 60kg division came up against 2014 Commonwealth Games Bronze medallist and 2016 Olympian Abdul Omar from Ghana who had come up on weight for this competition. Garside, more than not beat his opponent to the punch with quick footwork and impressive one-two. Omar did have his moments but increasingly became frustrated which left him open to more shots. Garside secured the unnimous decision win on all the judges cards as he moves on to the round of 16.
Garside now gets a rest until Monday where he will face Tryagain Ndevelo from Namibia who had a bye in the opening round.
Only one Aussie boxer in action on Friday with Campbell Somerville taking on Joshua Redhead in the Men’s 75kg division.
