Ladd named as SA boxing coach

IN his first year of coaching, Ladd’s Boxing Club’s Jackson Ladd has been selected as a state coach.

Ladd, 28, was selected to coach at nationals following the continued success of boxers under his tutelage.

“The state coach in Adelaide asked to have me by his side after I went with him to Perth for Super 8s because of the results I was getting,” he said.

“I got the selection to go to the youth school championships and they ended up allowing me to corner my fighter and a few others which is very rare, they rarely let coaches corner their fighters in an Australian title and it is very rare for a trainer in their first year of coaching to get a national champion under their belt.”

“I won’t be able to go to the nationals this year because my baby is due but the invitation means a lot and it is a step in the right direction.”

While Ladd isn’t able to attend this year’s nationals, he will be part of the SA coaching team in 2024, coaching fighters across all weight classes including his own fighter, Gab Toutai.

As part of his role, he will travel with the South Australian fighters interstate as they take on the best from across the country.

Being in his 20s, Ladd is far younger than the other coaches but said his experience in the game allowed him to be an effective leader.

“Most coaches are in their late 30s, moving into their 40s and 50s, so it feels pretty good to be recognised for the work I’ve put in, ” he said.

“I have studied the game, learnt the different styles of boxing, being able to box, fight on the backfoot, fight on the front foot, beat a brawler, beat a boxer be able to teach my fighter to adapt and win,” he said.

“Having fought as well also gives me an edge, I have probably sparred over 4000 rounds in the short five-year career I had, and learnt off people that had won world titles so that has been my learning.”

Ladd said as a coach it was important to “never stop learning”.

“I am still learning now, I feel I know a lot but in that sense I feel I only know a 10th of what there is to learn about this sport.”

Ladd said he found coaching even more rewarding than being a fighter.

“The reward is greater than if you win your own fight. The reward of building a fighter and seeing them get a result or seeing someone better their life is far greater than fighting,” he said.

“You don’t need talent to get far in this sport, but repetition will kill talent any day of the week talent will get you 10 percent of the way work ethic gets you the other 90 percent.”