Jason O’Rourke, with the Victorian Cruiserweight title belt and two WKA World Championship medals following his qualifying and final wins in Wales.
Local boxer Jason O’Rourke claimed the WKA (World Kickboxing and Karate Association) 83-86kg amateur boxing title in Wales on November 4 in a unanimous points decision.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
At Prestatyn in Wales, he beat Melbournite Brad Verfurth in the three-round bout, having qualified the day before against New Zealander Haimona Tamati in a TKO victory, in the third round.
Thrilled with his big win, O’Rourke gave away height to his opponent but that didn’t faze him.
“I felt comfortable with it,” he told The Free Press. “I had a good team in my corner in the Victorian Amateur Boxing League coaching staff. My coach Corey Pyle couldn’t be there, but he has been so good for me.
“I thank all my sponsors. Without them, I wouldn’t have been able to go to the world championships in Wales.” He gave a special mention to his major sponsor Rock Bottom Coaching.
The 24-year-old O’Rourke, popularly known as ‘Spike’, has a very impressive boxing background, origins of which started in Wahgunyah. Born at Corowa Hospital, O’Rourke has lived in Wahunyhah all his life until recently moving to Wodonga.
The move to Wodonga for the electrician is to be closer to additional boxing resources. “I’m having a look over the next 12 months as to whether to become professional,” Spike said.
An electrician by trade, Spike is very committed to his work and boxing. “Every day I’m doing something, whether that is running or in the boxing gym,” he said.
After their bout, winner Jason O’Rourke (left) with runner-up Brad Verfurth in the world amateur boxing championships in Wales.
Jason O’Rourke and run Brad Verfurth draped in the Australian flag.
In 2016 O’Rourke won a Gold Medal in the Australia Amateur Boxing League Championships boxing in the 75-81kg Under 18 category. He has also won a Victorian title fight and all but one of his seven fights covering the Albury region.
Early in his teenage years, he learned two significant lessons in respect of his sport. “When I was fourteen, I was just having a bit of muckaround with a friend of mine,” Spike said. “He belted me up. He was a lot lighter than me and I thought ‘I don’t want that happening again’.” That scuffle was against Charlie Crawford at the Wahgunyah football clubrooms. The two are still good mates.
“A school teacher once said to me ‘Words mean nothing if actions don’t come behind them’.” That teacher was Nathan Thomas of Rutherglen High School.
O’Rourke pays credit to his first coach Ben Ray of Downtown Boxing and second, and current coach Corey Pyle of Boss Boxing for his boxing prowess.
“I also thank my mate Charlie Crawford who got me into boxing and my dad for all the support he has given me - he is a big reason I’m still in the sport and he has seen all my fights, only ever missed one fight due to him being sick.”
Mum Sandra is naturally also keen on her son’s sport, having witnessed unfortunate football injuries to Spike in years gone by.
Apart from his dedication to his electrician work, it’s dedication and commitment to boxing for Spike which might become professional in due course.
11°C