Young fighter Kyson Crudeli generating big buzz as he looks to emulate father’s success

Kyson Crudeli added another win to his fight card over the weekend after the 14-year-old exploded on to the scene in the past year, generating a buzz much like his father did in years past.

Kyson “Lil Babe” Crudeli, weighing only 45.5kg, put up a dominant display when he took on Perth fighter Bhodi Hack.

The southpaw, who draws inspiration from both his father and Vasily Lomachenko, took up boxing only in the past year but already has multiple wins to his name and is now looking at taking on the State championships later this year.

After taking some shots early, Kyson was able to get on top with some lead crosses out of his southpaw stance which turned him into the aggressor and though he copped a couple of shots himself, a flurry of body shots edged him ahead on the scorecards at the end of the first round.

Hack would go down again in the third as a strong body shot forced him on to the ropes as he was bent over from another strong rip, again forcing the referee to give another eight counts.

Kyson went looking for another body shot to end the fight, but to Hack’s credit he fought back and did manage to get Babe to the canvas, though it was a push.

At the final bell, both fighters embraced but there was only one winner and that was Lil Babe in a dominant performance.

Kyson said even in his relatively short time as a fighter he had come a long way.

“I think it was one of my best fights so far,” he said.

“I’ve improved a lot since last year. I’m not as tall as some other fighters out there but my strengths lie in my speed and technique.”

Kyson started nominating for fights only in the past seven to eight months but said he was loving every opportunity to step in the ring.

“I like it — just travelling being on the road, we’re nominating for every fight I can and just trying to get in the ring as much as possible,” he said.

“I’ve not had many opportunities at the State level as there aren’t a lot of fighters in my division but I’ve set my eyes on it and I’m confident I’ll go well.”

Kyson’s father Justin was a former Australian and Golden Gloves champion and it’s hard not to draw comparisons between the pair, though Kyson says he’s still got a long way to go.

“Some people say I am (ahead of where my dad was at this age), he says I’m not, but I’m not sure. I haven’t seen much of him fight, especially when he was my age,” he said.

“It makes me a bit nervous because of the expectations but having him in my corner is good and he’s always got advice or pointers for me.”

Jake Peacock, who coached both father and son, heaped lots of praise on Kyson after the weekend.

“Kyson’s skill is beyond his experience level; the punch variety and switches in angles were outstanding,” he said.

“He’s a chip off the old block and I’ve had the privilege of cornering both Kyson and his dad in fights and I’ll put it out there now, Babe’s skill set is better than his old man, and he hits as hard as his mum, so he has a good base to go from.

“What Kyson achieves in boxing is totally up to him. He definitely has the skills to go further and he has 100 per cent support from his parents.”

Kyson wasn’t the only fighter from Peacock’s Gym stable in action on the weekend, with Jaspa Ritcher going down in a points decision in the schoolboy’s 46kg division against Bunbury’s George Wilde.

It was a baptism of fire, with Wilde coming out aggressively and forcing Ritcher on to the back foot straight away.

Ritcher was often forced to the ropes but was able to slip and roll with most punches and his best round was the second, where he managed to land a couple of straight rights on his forward-advancing opponent.

However, it was Wilde’s greater work rate and aggression that earnt him a unanimous decision.

While the State titles are on the horizon, Geraldton boxing fans will be able to see both Kyson and Ritchie in action at the Queens Park Theatre on September 23 for the regional boxing championships.