A large and experienced contingent will make the trip south and probably return with more than its share of Otago titles, Otago Boxing Association president Colin Falloon believes.
But, while the titles might go north, Falloon is just excited the championships have returned after a 20-year recess.
Financial struggles and the collapse of some boxing clubs in the region saw the event slip off the calendar.
Otago boxing remained in the doldrums until 2005, when the association celebrated its centenary.
It also hosted the South Island Golden Gloves that year.
"There was a drive to get more people involved, which coincided with a resurgence in boxing in New Zealand," Falloon said.
"A lot of people took it up for fitness and would find themselves in the ring."
The association has staged regular tournaments since 2005 and has been encouraged with the success of those events.
That gave the association the confidence to get the championships up and running again.
"We've been getting good crowds at our tournaments and feel the time is right," he said.
Invitations were sent out to all the associations in the South Island and the entries are continuing to flood in.
Fifty fighters have registered interest, with that number expected to grow to 80 fighters.
The country's No 1 ranked light-heavyweight (81kg), Canterbury's Reece Papuni, is one of the biggest names on the card.
Middleweight (69kg) Bowyn Morgan and light-welterweight (64kg) Todd Commons are also ranked No 1 in their respective divisions, and lightweight (60kg) Nort Beauchamp is also part of an impressive stable of fighters hailing from Canterbury.
Otago's best hope rests with Dunedin heavyweight Glen Craig.
He is an experienced fighter with 57 amateur bouts in New Zealand and Australia.
Youngster Chase Haley (17) was another name to watch, Falloon said.
He has had seven fights and was a promising boxer.
