Prasad Wins National Boxing Title

HBHS Year 10 student Isaac Prasad is a New Zealand middleweight title holder.  Isaac travelled to Levin two weeks ago to compete in the National Boxing Championships.  He has been a boxer for three years, and trains with Dion McNabney's Elite Boxing Club in Callum Brae.  Isaac reflected on his recent achievements:

How often are you training at the moment?

We're coming into the off-season, so four days a week.  When I was training for Nationals, it would have been about six. 

What's it like to get in the ring, knowing that your opponent is allowed to bash you in the face?

It's completely different to sparring, or any of the other preparations.  You need a very, very high level of fitness.  I'm quite heavy for my age and height, so the people I'm fighting are often 17 or 18 and quite a bit bigger-looking than me.  Sometimes my opponent is much more intimidating than me.  I don't really mind - I just zone it out and box.  Do what I've learnt.

Boxing is an unusual sport in that it's possible to get to the end without anyone apart from the judges knowing what the score is.  How do you cope with that?

At some tournaments they tell you between rounds where you are up to.  That happened at Nationals.  After the first round, I knew that I was up 3 - 0.  Normally it can be quite nerve-wracking if you're standing there at the end with the referee, and it's obvious that the bout has been very close.  You don't know whether you've won or not, right up until the last second. 

What sort of competitions have you been involved with this year?

For my second fight, I went to Tauranga and went up against a boxer from Christchurch who had already had twenty fights.  He was 17.  I went to the North Island Novice Champs after that, and won by TKO against the same guy I ended up fighting at Nationals.  A couple of weeks ago, I faced him again and beat him 9 - 3 in the National finals.  Apart from the medal for that came with that, I also won an award for 'Boxer of the Year' from my association.  It's been a good year.  Long term I'd like to be selected for the Junior Worlds Competition, with a long term view perhaps to the next Olympic round after this one.