If you ask Kloe Freeman to name the best thing about boxing, her answer is immediate and full of conviction.
“I love that it’s so hard. I love that you have to train to the point of breaking, because it gives you the absolute best feeling when you get your hand raised in the ring.”
The Nayland College Year 12 student has been selected for the New Zealand under-19 boxing team to compete at the Futures Cup in Thailand in March. Kloe is one of five females in the 13-strong squad, and one of only two fighters from the South Island.
It is the first time she has been chosen to wear the Silver Fern, a surprise selection but one that reflects more than two years of committed training.
“I was hopeful that selection was going to happen, but I really wasn’t sure after my last fight,” she says, referring to a recent bout against a much older and more experienced opponent. “I’m really happy and can’t wait to go.”
Although selected in the 65kg class, Kloe says she has never had to worry about cutting weight.
“At the moment I’m usually too light for my class, or I’m right at the bottom of it. Quite often I have to move up a weight class to get competitive fights.”
Her weekly workload is demanding: four sparring sessions, multiple strength and conditioning blocks, plenty of running, and close nutrition monitoring. For most people it might seem extreme, but for Kloe it is simply the price of chasing excellence.
Amiee Baker has coached her since she first laced up gloves in 2023 and says Kloe’s attitude has been central to her rapid rise.
“She’s really driven and motivated to train. She can also be reasonably hard on herself, which for a coach is interesting because that’s usually my job. She makes it pretty easy for me,” Amiee says.
And while Amiee agrees that Kloe loves the grind, she laughs when asked why she thinks her young fighter is drawn to the sport.
“Pretty simple – Kloe likes punching people in the face.”
