AussieBoxer's blog

 There is no beating experience. Although I registered to fight in the Combat category (1-6 fights; I had one previous fight), I ended up matched against a more experienced opponent in the Open category, who attacked more effectively than I did and won a unanimous decision. However, I kept my composure, both when on the defensive, dealing with his speed, and on the offensive, not over-reaching or getting frustrated when he evaded my shots. In our final weeks of training, Rashie had me working hard on these things, plus several other small but significant adjustments to my technique, which I implemented in the fight. After arriving at the venue, the draw was released, and I realized who I was up against. I had seen him defeat Rashie by a split points decision when I fought at the Pan Pacific Games last year and I knew I would need to fight at my very best. So that is what I did. I can’t help thinking that the experience of fighting someone of his calibre has been a ladder upwards for me. 

 This time around, I got detailed praise for how I fought. This came not just from my trainer, regular sparring partner and great mate Rashie and his amazing girlfriend and fellow fighter Amanda, and not just from family and friends, but also from the event organizers and even from the commentators, one of whom was a former IBF world lightweight champion, Barry Michael. Earlier, loud support from the bar for a local fighter drowned them out and I wondered if that would continue after Home Boy’s fight, but by the time I came on, to a cover of Muddy Waters’ R & B classic “Rollin’ and Tumblin’” (a reference to my boxing style before Rashie refined it), Michael & Co. could be heard clearly again. Every time I scored or came back strongly, the commentators would mention it, and Barry even creatively simplified my name to “Lake housing”! At supper and breakfast with them, I told them that their work greatly encouraged me, and Barry signed my “silver” medal. 

The event organizer, who had earlier phoned me asking me if I was OK with the match he had made for me (and who had passed on to Michael & Co. the approximately correct pronunciation of my surname), caught up with me as I was checking out of my room (I had decided to stay at the venue this time as I knew from last year that the bistro food was excellent) and with a wink called me “our next Masters Champion.” 

As a bonus, I also got to see a new friend I made on my trip to Sydney in January win his first Masters fight convincingly. Watch this space… 

It will be hard to beat this Masters Boxing experience, but I think my next one will.