Kyson ‘Lil Babe’ Crudeli unsuccessful at Australian Schools Boxing Championships after tough draw

Young Geraldton boxer Kyson “Lil Babe” Crudeli, 15, has come up short at the Australian Schools Boxing Championships in Perth earlier this month, after having a tough match-up first-up.

Crudeli was the fourth Geraldton product to compete at the championships in the past three years, following in the footsteps of Shareef Mohammad, Eric Kyanga and Frauke Rawlings.

Kyanga and Rawlings took home the silver medal when they competed, and Crudeli had been looking to go one better.

However, the 15-year-old drew eventual winner Shem Travers for the quarterfinals, and fell 5-0 in the judges’ decision.

Coach Jake Peacock said Crudeli took it to his Queensland counterpart, and would be better for the outing.

“It’s the luck of the draw. If Kyson had gotten a different draw he could have quite easily been walking away with a silver,” he said.

“Kyson’s top four now and we look forward to hopefully matching Travers again in the National Golden Gloves in Queensland.”

In the first round, Crudeli was up to the challenge against Travers, landing jabs to the body and forcing his opponent to the ropes.

However, Travers would strike back, landing blows of his own to take the first round.

“Lil Babe” looked to be the aggressor in the second, putting the pressure on Travers.

Crudeli would take the second round, taking it to a deciding third round.

The final round was heated, with the contest even for the majority of the bout.

However, Crudeli began to tire late in the piece, opening the door for Travers to land key blows in the dying moments, sealing the win.

Crudeli is preparing to compete at the National Golden Gloves in Queensland, beginning Thursday, August 22.