EMERGING heavyweight boxer Dylan Mallia has claimed the first Victorian Golden Gloves championship seen in Victoria in more than three decades.
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Mallia, 15, won the light-heavyweight final against Richmond’s Hasan Topal by way of a unanimous points decision in front of a bumper crowd at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre on Sunday.
The Bacchus Marsh export, who trains under Ballarat’s Ian Fear, advanced straight through Saturday’s qualifying round without an opponent after numerous entrants failed to make the weight requirements.
It was his fourth consecutive victory, but unlike the other three knockouts, Mallia was made to work for the honours this time round, outpointing Topal in every round.
The Sting Cup/Victorian Golden Gloves hasn’t been seen in its home state for 34 years, and Fear was happy Mallia was able to bring home the gold medal.
“This was Dylan’s best fight in his short career,” Fear said.
“It was an exciting bout that had the crowd on their feet, and Dylan did exactly what I wanted him to do in the ring.”
Meanwhile highly fancied lightweight Zach Robertson lost a split decision in his final against Bendigo’s Tom Fitzgerald.
Robertson (16-0) was wearied by a tough qualifying match on Saturday and subsequently lost a close split-decision final.
Both fighters will now prepare themselves for the Johnny Famechon Cup on April 20.