TWO Mildura boxers stepped into the ring at one of Australia’s most highly regarded amateur tournaments earlier this month.
Representing the Boxing Cartel, local gym owner and head coach Nick Wakefield’s fighters participated in the Australian Club Championships held at the Dom Polski Centre in Adelaide.
“Australian Club Championships is becoming one of the biggest tournaments in Australia for amateur boxing,” said Wakefield.
“For those at this event you’re competing at a pretty good level and you’re not really knowing what you’re going to get each day with your fights.”
For the athletes under Wakefield’s guidance, it was a chance to test themselves on a major stage.
Wakefield trainee and Mildura local, Dan Dwyer returned to the sport after a six year absence and walked away with the Club Championship belt after winning the 70kg elite open division.
“He fought on the Friday in the quarter final, won, was supposed to fight Saturday, but his opponent pulled out and then he ended up fighting Sunday in the final and won that as well,” said Wakefield.
“To get a belt in his first tournament back was pretty cool.”
Dwyer balances boxing with his work as a bricklayer.
“He’s training in the early morning, then he goes and lays bricks all day and then he’s back in the gym again that,” said Wakefield
“He probably wasn’t too sure what to expect, considering he hadn’t been in the ring competitively for six years, but went out there and executed what he needed to do.”
“He’s already asking about the next one and that just shows that he’s going to remain consistent and disciplined which is great, which will help him keep getting wins as we go on.”
The event also saw fellow Boxing Cartel member, 16-year-old Rhys Hutchinson from Mildura, fight in the final of the 66kg bracket against a more experienced and undefeated Queensland opponent in James Woodlock.
Despite a narrow loss, Wakefield saw far more than the result.
“Even though he lost, I was happy with the performance because I could see improvements,” he said.
“That’s what it’s all about at that level.”
Hutchinson juggles high school with a packed training schedule and has quickly earned a lot of respect within Wakefield’s gym.
“He gets up early and trains, goes to school, then comes back to the gym in the afternoon and trains,” said Wakefield.
“When you’re doing things like that, only good things can happen.
“He’ll keep developing as he gets older, like any athlete does and he’s doing all the right things.”
Preparation at the Boxing Cartel is as intense as you would expect from a fighting gym, especially before big competitions.
“These guys are training two times a day, six days a week,” said Wakefield.
“I’m sure some of them probably sneak a third session in some days here and there.”
“They’re also eating pretty strict to make their weight class and it’s a tough process, but it’s obviously rewarding when you can come away with a win.”
Wakefield’s philosophy is grounded in equal opportunity and high expectations.
“No matter who walks through the doors of my gym, I’ll always treat them the same,” he said.
“Everybody here has a great opportunity to do good things as long as they put in the work.”
“What you can get out of it is realistically what you put in with this sport.”
