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Brothers a boxing hit

14 Jul, 2009 04:00 AM
BOXERS Qamil and Ibby Balla are rolling with the punches all the way to the world titles.

Rockbank's hardest-working boxing brothers are back home after a tour of Italy, the Czech Republic - where Qamil won a bronze medal - and Germany.

Qamil, 19, a junior welterweight and five-times national titleholder, and 18-year-old Ibby, a featherweight and four-times national titleholder, earned the chance to train with the AIS after winning their weight divisions at the selection championship in Adelaide last May.

The European tour was part of an intensive training regime run by the Australian Institute of Sport ahead of the Amateur International Boxing Association world championships in Milan, Italy, in September.

The world titles will be the culmination of much hard work for the brothers, who for years have trained hard with their coach and father Nuri and his assistant - and the boys' uncle - Metat.

Qamil said the pair were enjoying a short break from national training and would return to the AIS in Canberra in August for final preparations under the tutelage of head coach Bodo Andreass.

"Training with the national team was certainly a great experience," Qamil said. "We had plenty of opportunity to sharpen our technique [and] learn a few new things.

"Everyone comes together like a brotherhood and you really want to do your best so you don't let them down. While it's good to be home and have a break, I'm anxious to get back there and prepare for the titles."

Qamil's Czech bronze came in an AIBA Grand Prix event, while both tasted success in Italy and Germany.

Despite a cut above his eye from the head gear stitching in the Czech Republic, Ibby's punching earned him an invitation to contest the President's Cup in Azerbaijan in November. "Only a certain amount of boxers are invited to compete in that, so it will be an experience to cherish."

Not to let his brother overshadow him, Qamil impressed everyone at the AIS by beating Danny Green's 11-year-old punching record.

The force of each boxer's punch was measured by a punching 'integrator', which detects pounds per square-inch a boxer can generate.

"I couldn't believe it when I was told I'd broken Danny Green's record," Balla declared. "I gave it everything I had but never expected to be creating records."

After the world titles, the Balla brothers will turn their attention to the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India.

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Gloves off ... to Italy: Boxers Qamil and Ibby Balla are preparing for the world titles.
Gloves off ... to Italy: Boxers Qamil and Ibby Balla are preparing for the world titles.

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