Sports

Troy wins boxing pro debut

Boxer Troy Harding with his winning trophy. Troy took out his professional boxing debut, during Saturday night’s Yamba Big Bash Boxing event. Image: Jess Binge
Lynne Mowbray Former Yamba boxer Troy Harding has won his professional boxing debut, during Saturday night’s Yamba Big Bash Boxing event. Troy said that the fight which was scheduled for 4 x 3 minute rounds was won in the second round. “My opponent was Aiden Bennet from Perth who trains out of Team CNS, who was also making his pro debut,” said Troy. “I won after the second Technical Knockout TKO, with the referee stopping the contest after he was dropped with a punch to the body. Troy said that his motivation to get back into the ring was attributed to his late father. “My dad Les Harding passed away last year and (prior to his death) he told me he wanted me to get back into training and have another fight; and I promised him I would,” said Troy. “It meant the world to me to have the support from the community that were there to watch the fight; it was amazing. “It was also awesome to have Yamba’s Adam Jones making his Pro debut on the same card. “I’d also like to thank Nick Midgley from Kingscliff Boxing Stables and Dragon Fire Promotions for putting the show on and opening the door for professional boxing on the North Coast and hopefully Saturday night’s event will get more young guys keen to get into boxing,” he said. Troy, who trains out of the Power Boxing Gym at Ashmore PCYC and Norm Harvey’s Yamba Boxing Club, donated his earnings from the fight to the Yamba Boxing Club, to replace the gear that was destroyed in the last floods.