FOR many years Ipswich’s Kim Bennett had watched proudly on at ringside as her son Joe won two Queensland Boxing titles.
Last week at the age of 50 plus Kim took the amazing step to emulate her son and stepped into the ring for her first ever fight.
She was rock hard fit after doing boxing training for the past two years before her bout at the Gold Coast.
It was no ordinary assignment she handed herself as the fight was for the Lightweight 60kg Oceania Masters’ Boxing Title for fighters over 51 years of age.
Kim said it was great to have her family ringside and to also have her son Joe as her cornerman.
“I knew little about my opponent other than she was strong, a big hitter, and had travelled up from Port Macquarie for the title bout,” she said.
Kim’s coach Jess Cashman said the plan was to press hard early and it certainly worked with the referee putting a standing eight count on her opponent inside the first minute before her corner threw in the towel.
Cashman said she was thrilled with Kim’s effort and they are now planning to contest the Masters Golden Gloves in November. “Kim is very fit, actually fitter than many of the younger fighters in the gym. She is like a little steam engine, she just keeps on going,” she said.
“To win an Oceania Title in her first fight was a huge achievement.”
