BOXING: Maranoa boxing club athletes walked away from the state novice championships with an impressive medal haul at the weekend.

Seven of Maranoa's finest boxers were set to fight in the competition but due to a number of opponents pulling out at late notice, only two took to the ring.

But it was a successful weekend of competition for Brendan Shanley, who came away with a silver in the elite novice 75kg division, Lance Godfrey, with gold in the junior novice 66kg, and Blayde Dudgeon, who won his gold by default in the schoolkids 36kg and under division.

Shanley fought two opponents at the weekend and despite a strong first fight said his second was anything but easy.

"I won the first fight quite comfortably, I was that little bit stronger and a bit fitter, but the second fight was much more difficult,” he said.

"My opponent in the second fight was a lot taller, he was quicker and he also had the reach advantage over me.

"It was also evident he was very fit as well.

"In the first round I feel I took it out, but in the second he caught me with a few heavy hooks and in the end the ref pulled it up, so I came away with the silver and he the gold medal.”

Lance Godfrey fought one opponent but again due to lack of opponents he made the decision to fight up a weight class, causing him to adapt on the fly.

"I identified early that I had the reach advantage and he was a really strong kid, so I basically just tried to keep that distance between me and him,” he said.

"I recognised that my opponent's club liked to try to charge down their opponents, so I'd meet him in the middle, land a few jabs and then push the distance so he couldn't respond.”

The fighters agreed that approaching the final rounds of the fight was a real test of endurance and their training and teamwork were key to their success in the ring.

"In the third round I literally just tried to put in as many punches as possible, and then I'd step back and try to push through to the end of the round,” Godfrey said.

"While Lance was battling it out in his final round, I was in the corner with Dick and we were all just urging him on to keep him going,” Shanley said.

"It was clear, especially in my fight, that despite all the cardio work we had done, we still need to get even fitter.”