Garside leads Aussie boxers on Olympics hunt

Harry Garside is among 13 Australian boxers able to secure their Paris Olympics ticket at the Pacific Games.

Garside's bronze in Tokyo two years ago was the country's first Games boxing medal in 33 years.

The charismatic lightweight then controversially halted his professional career after three impressive wins to pursue another crack at Olympic gold as an amateur.

The 26-year-old can punch his ticket to France's showpiece next year if he wins the 63.5kg division at the Solomon Islands' multi-sport festival from November 19-December 2.

"It's always a special feeling pulling on the green and gold," Garside said.

"It's been a few years since I've properly competed for Australia, I'm so excited to get over to the Solomon Islands and try to win that Olympic quota (place).

"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."

Australia will send a team of 76 athletes to the Solomon Islands, across the sports of archery, athletics, boxing, beach volleyball, judo, sailing, taekwondo and weightlifting.

Archers can also directly qualify for Paris 2024 at the tournament, while other athletes will earn ranking points that contribute to their pursuit of a berth.

It will be Australia's third Pacific Games appearance since debuting at Port Moresby 2015.

AUSTRALIAN BOXERS AT THE 2023 PACIFIC GAMES

* Men - Harry Garside, Yusuf Chothia, Charlie Senior, Shannan Davey, Callum Peters, Adrian Paoletti, Teremoana Teremoana.

* Women - Caitlin Parker, Monique Suraci, Tiana Echegaray, Tina Rahimi, Tyla McDonald, Marissa Williamson Pohlman.