Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist Harry Garside, Yusuf Chothia, Charlie Senior, Shannan Davey, Callum Peters, Adrian Paoletti and Teremoana Teremoana will contest the men’s events for Australia, while Tokyo Olympian Caitlin Parker, Monique Suraci, Tiana Echegaray, Tina Rahimi, Tyla McDonald and Marissa Williamson Pohlman will compete in the women’s events.

Solomons 2023 acts as the continental qualifying event for boxing, with the winner of each weight class at the Pacific Games earning a quota by name for Paris 2024.

Chef de Mission for the Australian Team at the Pacific Games Kenny Wallace welcomed the announcement.

“Congratulations to each of the boxers on their selection to the Australian Team for the 2023 Pacific Games,” Mr Wallace said.

“This is an amazing squad that I have no doubt will represent Australia with pride and honour in Solomon Islands.

“The Pacific region has produced so many great boxers, and with Paris Olympic qualification on the line we know competition will be fierce.

“As a big squad of 13 athletes with some familiar names from the Tokyo Olympics, the boxers and coaches will contribute greatly to the strong Australian team culture on the ground in Honiara. Congratulations again to each of the athletes on today’s selection, and to the coaches, families and supporters who have helped them achieve this milestone.”

Twenty-six-year-old Garside, who made history winning Australia’s first ever Olympic medal in Tokyo, said he is hungry for more.

“It’s always a special feeling pulling on the green and gold,” Harry said. “It’s been a few years since I’ve properly competed for Australia, I’m so excited to get over to Solomons Islands and try to win that Olympic quota.

“About 10 of my 110 career fights have been against athletes from the Pacific – all of them hard fights. Whenever we come up against Pacific boxers you know they’ll be athletic, gifted, so we know this will be a good, hard tournament for all the Aussies.

“The Pacific Games is such an awesome opportunity to connect with other sports representing Australia, great athletes who are chasing their own sporting dreams.”

Fellow Tokyo Olympian and 2023 World Championship silver medallist Caitlin Parker said her experience boxing for Australia for almost a decade will drive her towards success at the Pacific Games.

“It feels incredible to make this team,” Caitlin said. “I know what I need to do – I’ve felt the heartbreak of missing out on qualifying for an Olympics in 2016, then having the accomplishment and fulfilling a lifelong dream to become an Olympian in Tokyo, but not having my dream performance.

“I pull so much from those experiences and know I’ll do whatever it takes to not feel that way again.

“The changing point in this Olympic cycle is I truly believe in myself. In March this year I won silver at the World Championships and beat the opponent who beat me at Tokyo. Constantly making improvements.

“This Australian boxing team is incredible, the support we show each other, it’s such a great culture. To be back in a multisport environment with so many great Aussie athletes will be really special – I know we’ll be cheering all the other sports on and they’ll have our back too.”

“This is my first Pacific Games and first time in Solomon Islands, another fantastic culture to experience and I can’t wait to compete and represent Australia in November.”

Boxing Australia President Phillip Goodes was thrilled at the announcement. 

“On behalf of the Boxing Australia Board and Staff I would like to congratulate each individual athlete, coach, and support staff on their selection to the Solomon Islands 2023 Pacific Games Australian Team,” Mr Goodes said. 

“It is an amazing achievement by each athlete, with the acknowledgement to their dedication, determination, resilience, and professionalism to achieve selection and Boxing Australia wishes the team the best of luck in their endeavours for success at the 2023 Pacific Games. 

“Boxing Australia looks forward to providing ongoing support to the team’s preparation prior to and during the Pacific Games, we look forward to a successful campaign by the Australian Team providing winning athletes an opportunity for representation at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.”

Australia will send a team of 76 athletes across the sports of Archery, Athletics, Boxing, Beach Volleyball, Judo, Sailing, Taekwondo and Weightlifting. The 2023 Pacific Games offer a direct Paris 2024 qualification opportunity for boxers and the mixed archery team, as well as world ranking points vital for qualification and international experience across other sports.

Taekwondo is the final sport to be announced, with team selections expected in mid-October.

The Pacific Games will see more than 5000 athletes and officials from 24 nations compete across 24 sports in Solomon Islands capital Honiara from 19 November to 2 December. 

Solomons 2023 is the third time Australia has participated after first being invited to compete in several sports at Port Moresby 2015.