JAKE RILES AND JUNIOR TUILAU DISCUSS THE RUMBLE AT NEWMAN AND FUTURE BOXING EVENTS

We recently caught up with Jake Riles and Junior Tuilau, both passionate about boxing and fitness in their community. Junior, a coach and boxer, has guided Jake as he ventured into the world of competitive boxing. "We run a volunteer-based gym in Wickham," says Junior. "We started boxing just to get fit and get the town involved." Their efforts took a big step forward when they were invited to participate in a tournament in Newman. "We got a call from Selena, one of the coaches from Newman, about running a tournament. We put it out to the team, and Michael and Jake jumped at the chance to step into the ring," Junior explains.

Jake Riles in Red

This was Jake's first official boxing match, and he had a formidable opponent to face. "Yeah, it was my first official boxing fight," Jake shares. Despite the challenge, he jumped in enthusiastically, even when facing someone 20 kilos heavier than himself. "I was a bit nervous at the start, as I think anyone would be," he admits. "But I survived, so it's all good." While Jake’s first fight was intense, he’s already considering future opportunities. "I’d probably try and find someone a bit more similar in weight next time," Jake says with a smile. "But I’d definitely do it again."

Junior Tuilau

Junior also sees a lot of potential for boxing in the community. After seeing the tournament's success in Newman, he’s excited about possibly hosting a similar event in Wickham. "We’d definitely love to do something like that here," Junior says. "There’s a lot of behind-the-scenes work that goes into it, but it would be great for the kids in the community." Jake, who’s entirely on board, adds, "I’d definitely help out if we could organise something here. It’s great to see how much work Selena and the team put into it, and it would be awesome to bring that energy to our own community." With their shared passion and dedication, Jake and Junior are excited to continue promoting fitness and boxing for the next generation.