Boxer stars at Pan Pacific Masters Games

In the space of two months, Tracy Rigby has gone from being a corporate fighter in Motueka to claiming a Pan Pacific Masters title in Australia.

And those around her weren’t the least bit surprised, Tracy had played touch, netball and was an adventure racer before coming to Dixon’s Boxing in Richmond four years ago.

“I like to challenge myself,” declares the 47-year-old mother of two from Dovedale.
After plenty of sparring in the gym, she debuted on the Fight for Rangatahi card in Motueka last year and competed again in August.

Coach Randall Dixon could tell she was ready for tougher competition and urged her to go to the Pan Pacific Masters Games on the Gold Coast.

“I injured my AC joint and had a calf problem as well, but I managed them as I was determined to go,” reveals Tracy.

Her husband Keith couldn’t travel but she had lots of support from family in Brisbane.

“I was more worried about letting them down than losing in the ring,” says Tracy.
She needn’t have worried. Tracy dispatched an Australian woman in her first bout in the 72.5 kilogram combat women’s class to set up an all-Kiwi final against another 47-year-old, Angela Wilson from Dunedin.

“We ended up having dinner together on the eve of the fight and she said she was going to kill me,” recalls Tracy.

Randall confirms Angela certainly talked the talk ahead of the three two-minute rounds.

An unexpected highlight for Tracy was being presented with a special New Zealand boxing singlet before the final by Motueka’s Vince Clayton.

The fight itself was one way as Angela was made to eat her words, simply outclassed.  While she survived two standing eight counts, her face took a hammering.

“We had lunch the day after the fight and she was pretty battered,” confirms Tracy.
Their fight was dedicated to six-time national boxing champion Morris Tuck who represented New Zealand at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games.

As well as winning her grade, the former accounts worker at The Guardian was adjudged the best female combat fighter at the masters games.

Randall says Tracy is a great role model for the gym as she works hard, looks after herself  and doesn’t back down from the hard sparring he puts her through.
Tracy confirms it is a heavy workload.

“Training is intense alright. 20 hours a week, so I am working part-time so I can fit it in.”

She was quick to praise her ringside crew plus three women she spars with in the Richmond gym – Ashley Belk, Lydia Green and Tatiana Staples.

Tracy hopes her efforts will inspire other women to take up the sport. Her inspiration was Reefton fighter Lisa Ryan who is still competing at the age of 55, but offshore, as the cut off point in this country is 50.

“Immediately after the final, I thought I am not putting myself through this again,” says Tracy.

But then there’s the Masters Golden Gloves to look forward to in Christchurch next June.

Randall would like to see her eventually move into coaching as he’s certain she has all the qualities required to make a success of that as well.