May the Force be with him

By SHAUN INGUANZO
GEMBROOK boxer Luke “The Force” Woodham is on the verge of winning selection in Australia’s 2006 Commonwealth Games team after progressing through the state trials to represent Victoria at the national selection tournament later this month.
Woodham, 17, lost by a splitpoints decision to 24yearold Bairnsdale boxer Luke Caranawa in the lightwelterweight (64kgs and under) category at the state trials at the Reggio Calabria Club, Brunswick, on Sunday 31 July.
Caranawa became the automatic choice to advance to the nationals which will be held at the Reggio Calabria Club in Brunswick from 2628 August.
But then Woodham’s trainer Corey Parker received a call on 2 August from an adjudicator informing him that Caranawa had pulled out of the Commonwealth Games race, leaving Woodham the obvious choice to represent Victoria.
“They chose Luke because the fight was so close and really could have gone either way,” Parker said.
“Luke was tough. (He was) in (Caranawa’s) face all the time and threw heaps of punches.”
While fortune favoured Woodham in advancing to the nationals, Parker said the youngster now had a strong chance of representing Australia due to his fitness and fast recovery rate.
Parker said the nationals provided a rigorous schedule with boxers having one bout each day.
He said such events were unpredictable due to injuries or even knockouts.
“You are only ever 10 seconds from victory or defeat,” Parker said.
Woodham will fight Tasmanian boxer Nathan Polly in an exhibition bout at the Reggio Calabria Club on 14 August.