New Zealand is chasing its first quota at the 2nd World Olympic Boxing Qualifying Event

The 2^nd World Olympic Boxing Qualifying Event will be held in Bangkok, Thailand from May 24 until June 2 and several of the teams have already arrived at the venue to make the final preparations for the event.

New Zealand did not qualify any boxers to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games yet through the Pacific Games and the 1^st World Olympic Boxing Qualifying Event but the team is ready to do surprises in Bangkok.

New Zealand’s former elite national team member Amy Andrew Hussain was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland but she represented the Oceanian country in several international competitions. Following her successful professional career, she decided to return to the squad and she will be boxing at the women’s featherweight (57kg) in Bangkok.

Cara Wharerau is another experienced boxer in the team who was awarded the Best Boxer Trophy in the 2023 New Zealand National Boxing Championships. As Amy Hussain, she also competed at the 2018 edition of the Women’s World Boxing Championships in New Delhi, India.

The third selected female boxer in the team is Deanne Shontel Read who competed for New Zealand in the recent Pacific Games and she also has more than six years of international routine as Hussain and Wharerau.

The Zambian-descent Alex Mukuka is one of the promising boxers at the men’s featherweight (57kg) who participated in the last two Olympic qualification events and at the recent Commonwealth Games two years ago.

Their top light middleweight (71kg) hopeful, Wendell Stanley was born in Zimbabwe but the tall boxer supported New Zealand in the international competitions and his highlight was the silver medal at the 2023 Pacific Games.

Taj Kagho returned to his roots from Australia and the Top16 finisher from the 1^st World Olympic Boxing Qualifying Event, will chase for his dreams at the light heavyweight (80kg). The seventh NZ team member is Malcolm Matthes at the heavyweight (92kg) who had a successful youth career.