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NATALIA HUME, 19, is emerging as
one of New Zealand boxing's big hopes
_ no wonder for someone who has
been fighting since they were born.

As a baby only a few hours old,
Russian-born Hume was abandoned in a
shoebox at the gates of an orphanage in
Smolensk.

Better times came as a six-year-old
when she was brought to New Zealand
and adopted by Christchurch couple
Greg and Cushla Hume.

Their son, Rohan, used to be keen on
boxing, and as a young teenager she
tagged along to the gym when he
trained.

However, while he gave up the
sport, she became serious about it.

This month she followed up her suc
cess in winning the light flyweight title
at last year's New Zealand champion
ships in Rotorua by winning the gold
medal at the Oceania championships in
Canberra.

She had only the one bout, but the
result was emphatic _ she knocked out
the Australian woman in the fourth
round.

It was one of only two golds for the
New Zealand men's and women's team.

She now has a record of five fights,
five wins, and next up is her title
defence at the nationals at Hornby
WMC from September 23 to 26.

Her experienced trainer, Phil
Shatford, says Hume's biggest handicap
is her size. At 46kg it's hard to find
bouts for her.

''If she could put on two or three
kilos, she could make the 51 kilo at the
Olympics,'' he said.

''And I think she'd take a power of

 

beating. She's so strong and she trains
as hard as any of the boys.''

This year she got new direction by
doing the limited service volunteer
course at Burnham.

Normally trainees aren't allowed to
leave the course, but she was able to
continue her boxing training thanks to
the efforts of her section commander,
Lance Corporal Puhi Rangiuia, who ran
her to her sessions.

She did the LSV course to help her
fitness for the ring, and said that it had
given her more stamina, and the discip
line had also been good for her.

The appeal of the ring for her? ''Win
ning medals _ and beating up the
girls!'' she said.

However, it's another sport that may
provide a more durable career for her.

She works at Ross Beckett's
Yaldhurst stables and hopes to do a
jockey apprenticeship, and has already
had wins at the trials.

Hume lives in Sumner, and her
horse work plus boxing training at
Shatford's Addington Raceway-based
Riverside gym four days a week means
she's up at 4.30am every day.

The Canterbury boxing champion
ships are at Woolston WMC on Satur
day with sessions at 1.30pm and 7.30pm.
However, Hume is not sure if she will
be able to get a fight.