Though the squad consists of just four fighters, Otago Boxing Association president Colin Falloon said it was a sign the sport was gaining favour after a few years in the doldrums.
He said the association had made progress since its centenary in 2005 and there were more fighters around.
Lining up for Otago next weekend will be heavyweight Glen Craig (27), lightweight Cameron Yung (22), middleweight Chase Haley (17) and welterweight Jamie Dick (16).
They fight out of various clubs in Otago but Falloon said they have been working hard and fitness levels, so important in boxing, were impressive.
Craig and Yung are trained by Eldon Clifton, who said both boxers had worked hard over the past few months.
Clifton said Craig was in good form, coming off a silver medal at the Oceania Games, and was well equipped to take the title. Several fighters from Christchurch loomed as his big opponents.
Yung was a relatively inexperienced boxer with less than a dozen fights but he had great fitness and some high aspirations, Clifton said.
Though some of the Commonwealth Games boxers may not be there, Clifton doubted the standard would be any lower, and progress depended on the luck of the draw.
Dick, from Kaitangata, is only a young fighter but has good fitness and is coached by Clive Creighton. Dick will compete in the junior grade.
The boxers had all benefited from training together but it would be tough going on the national stage, Falloon said.
Chase Haley will compete in the intermediate grade and will immediately benefit from a build-up in which he has faced older fighters.
A lack of opposition in the South Island has led to Haley fighting senior boxers, above his age group, and coach Rex Reihana, Haley's father, said Haley had notched some impressive victories.
His last bout was a second-round victory at the Canterbury championships last month.
Haley went to the national championships last year, only to strike the champion in the opening round.
He fought gamely but lost.
Reihana said Haley would be all better for that experience.
The championships will be held over three days, starting a week today. About 200 boxers are expected at the Hornby Working Men's Club, which has escaped major earthquake damage.
The fights are made up of three rounds of three minutes.
