Toowoomba staking its claim as national boxing capital - The Sunshine Coast Daily

Toowoomba-trained boxers (from left) Darren Askew, Kris George, Josh Webb, Jack Asis, Les Sherrington, Will Young and Braydon Smith with the belts from their latest title victories. Kevin Farmer

BOXING is on a roll in Toowoomba and this year will be a hard one for the Garden City to top in terms of success.

But leading trainer and promoter Brendon Smith is predicting the sport's resurgence on the Darling Downs is set to spill over into 2015 and beyond.

Smith has overseen three major fight nights in Toowoomba this year which have helped unearth a new generation of title-holders and potential world champions.

The region's run of successful 2014 boxing shows is set to end at Oakey Cultural Centre tomorrow night with the staging of the annual Fight Against Depression Round Three card.

Smith said the achievements of Toowoomba-trained boxers this year confirms his opinion the city is pound-for-pound the boxing capital of Australia.

"We have had seven boxers trained in Toowoomba win titles in the last 12 months or so," Smith said.

"That's an amazing achievement for a country town.

"When you look at the depth of talent in our area and the successful trainers we have, I feel per head of population, Toowoomba has become the boxing capital of Australia.

"And I believe this is only the start. There is more to come.

"All of our title winners are great champions, great role models and very humble men.

"I'm just so proud of each of them.

"They work so hard and so well together and their success rubs off on each other and the next person who comes along.

"Toowoomba has been very famous for its boxers in the past and it's rapidly becoming so again."