Boxing: Qualifying for Rio challenge for Morton

Dunedin boxer Bridget Morton will represent New Zealand at the Asia-Oceania Olympic qualifying...
Dunedin boxer Bridget Morton will represent New Zealand at the Asia-Oceania Olympic qualifying event in China later this month. PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSON
Bridget Morton is not easily defined.

She is a lawyer, a four-time New Zealand boxing champion and has also done some modelling.

Not many could lay claim to those three suits.

But then this 28-year-old has always enjoyed having a lot on the go.

‘‘My favourite quote is no pressure, no diamonds,'' the pint-sized pugilist said while leaning over the ropes at the New Zealand Fight and Fitness Academy in Dunedin earlier this week.

The flyweight learnt her ring craft in the city but has been living in Christchurch for the past three years.

A work opportunity has lured her back to her beloved Dunedin and she arrived last week with plans to buy her first home.

But she will be packing her bags again soon.

Morton is heading to China with the New Zealand boxing team to compete in the Asia-Oceania Olympic qualifying event in Qianan from March 23-April 3. Queenstown's Richie Hadlow is also in the New Zealand team.

Morton has steeled herself for what is a daunting challenge.

She will need to make the gold medal bout to qualify for the Olympics and expects there will be at least 19 other fighters trying to do the same thing.

‘‘I need either a gold or a silver medal, so it is pretty hard going. But you have go believing it is possible and that you are going to come home with the gold or the silver.''

If Morton is eliminated before the gold medal bout she will get one more opportunity to clinch an Olympic berth.

‘‘There is a second opportunity which is at the worlds in Kazakstan and I think I need to get in the top four. However, at that event there will be a lot more girls - at least 40-50.''

Moving back to Dunedin meant shifting gyms. But Morton has no concerns that her preparations will be jeopardised.

She began her boxing career with Fight and Fitness coaches Ryan Henry and Eldon Clifton six years ago.

‘‘Initially I thought boxing would be a bucket list thing, something to look back on. But one fight turned in to one season and then another and I'm still here.''

Morton has had about 20 fights and has been in the ring with some classy opponents.

That experience has given her the belief she can be competitive should she reach her goal and get to the Olympics.

Failing that, the 2018 Commonwealth Games remain a goal.

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