Boxing has been a devotion for Point Cook’s Daniel Roberts since the age of 10.
When the now 17-year-old returned from Perth with the Boxing Australia under 19 64-kilogram youth light welterweight national title, it was a proud moment because of the blood, sweat and tears he has shed in the ring and in the gym over the past seven years.
“It’s the best experience I’ve had in boxing for sure,” Roberts said.
“It was just a relief because I’ve committed so much time and so much effort, pretty much half of my life, in training and fighting.
“It’s a relief being able to get the job done and do something recognisable.”
Roberts travelled to Perth confident of success, but he was still the underdog as the second ranked Victorian.
The year 12 student from Emmanuel College in Altona North qualified for the nationals after a silver medal at the state championships. But Roberts’ preparation for the nationals was spot on, thanks to the guidance of new coach Dave Hegarty at the Tarneit Boxing Gym and his own incredible work ethic, which sees him train for up to two and a half hours a day, five days a week, not including the road running he does outside of his sparring and gym work.
“I turned it around up there, that was the goal and I got it done,” Roberts said.
“I’ve been with my new coach for about eight months now, so I think having a bit more time to adapt with him and being so hungry going up there.
“He’s made the training a bit more specific to the amateurs and we’re working a lot more on my technique and my form.
“I used to be a lot more of a brawler and just wanted to fight, whereas Dave’s got me boxing and using technique and strategies to win fights now.”
Roberts had to overcome an intense three fights in four days to become national champion.
He beat a tough opponent in Jason Fawcett, of New South Wales, in an enthralling final.
“It was the toughest fight of my career so far,” Roberts said. “It was gruelling, so it was good to come out on top of him.”
Roberts has qualified to compete at the Oceania boxing championships in Samoa, starting in May.
If he succeeds at Oceania level, Roberts will get the chance to go to Hungary for the Youth World Championships, and from that event, competitors are chosen for the Youth Olympics in Argentina.
While excited by the prospect of doors opening in his boxing career, Roberts is not looking too far ahead.
“I’m pretty confident going over to Samoa, just as confident as I was going into nationals, but you can’t overlook any opponent,” Roberts said.
