NEON Boxing Academy boxers have returned from the 2026 International Golden Gloves with gold and silver medals, major international victories and new representative opportunities across Australia and overseas.
Held at Nissan Arena from August 18-22, the tournament brought together more than 900 athletes from across Australia, as well as teams from Japan, New Zealand, Scotland, Nauru and Pacific nations.
Team Neon’s campaign was highlighted by Golden Gloves titles for Sarah “Machine Gun” O’Shea and Maddox “Money Man” Mc- Gregor, with Zahara “Mad Cinderella” Lane and Oscar Oscar Curtis took silver at the Golden Gloves.
Curtis claiming silver medals. O’Shea dominated her Masters final, forcing two standing eight counts before earning a first-round referee stoppage to become the 2026 Golden Gloves Masters champion.
McGregor, the reigning Australian Under-17 champi- Zahara “Mad Cinderella” Lane celebrates her silver medal. on, won three bouts in three days, including a final victory over the reigning New Zealand champion.
Lane stepped up five kilograms to contest the 70kg division and won through to the final before a narrow split-decision loss, while Curtis produced an explosive semi-final stoppage before taking home silver after a close final.
Kipa “Tha Ripa” Keremete also stepped up a division, from 70kg to 75kg, and defeated the reigning New Zealand champion in his opening bout before meeting a Japanese world champion and two-time Olympian in the semi-final.
The international experience has continued for Keremete and teammate Luke “Maddest Dog” Morrison, who are currently on a German tour featuring three tournaments from August 29 to September 9.
Gene “The Machine” Keremete also impressed at Golden Gloves, recording two referee-stoppage wins before narrowly missing a place in the final
