BOXING
By samuel darroch
MOE Youth Boxing Club fighters Terry Burgess and Shaun Davine both picked up state silver medals in the past month, but it could have easily been gold for the ambitious amateurs.
Burgess, who is set to turn pro next year, fought “the fight of his life” against Andrew Falcke in the intermediate middleweight state final last month in Lilydale, but came up agonisingly short of a points decision.
“When the going got tough he just went hard,” trainer Paul Jenkins said.
“We were right in it; it was a total war and a see-sawing battle. Terry fought the fight of his life.”
With just a year left before age forces his retirement from the ring, the 31 year-old decided to enter the professional arena in 2014 to test his mettle.
Burgess, who had his first amateur fight this year, said he wanted to push the boundaries before it was too late.
“Just to better myself and see how I’ve improved over time… and challenge myself,” he said.
“It’s scary, honestly, but I can’t wait for the challenge, it’s going to be a whole different kettle of fish.”
Club mate Davine has emerged as one of the best raw talents in Victoria this year and came equally close to state gold in the super middleweight open division.
Following a convincing win over Aiden Rentoul in the elimination rounds, the 22 year-old tackled the standout amateur of 2013 Brad Azzopardi, from ex-WBF world light heavyweight champion Jim Tsitas’ stable, for the title in Geelong.
Davine’s dogged performance in the back and forth four round final drew praise from former lightweight contender Scott Brouwer, who was in the Moe corner on the night.
“He fought the standout fighter of the year and Shaun took it straight to him… he was there to win and he fell short by an inch, he fought beautifully,” Jenkins said.
Davine has four wins in seven amateur fights, and 12 victories at interclub level, since joining Jenkins’ gym three years ago.
Helped along by Tony Ruyders and Jenkins in the ring, the rising star said boxing had irrevocably changed his life and aspirations.
“As a person fighting changed me; self control and discipline and pushing all my bad (lifestyle) habits out the door more or less because you need the best out of your body. It’s worked magic for me,” he said.
“I dream about being the champion, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t, but it’s going to be a lot of hard work.”
Jenkins said he planned to enter Davine in next year’s Queensland Golden Gloves tournament, the second toughest on the calendar, and would aim for state and national titles in 2014.
The Moe gym may have another pair of future champions on its hands in Mick Carrothers, who Jenkins described as “the toughest kid I’ve seen since (two time national champion) Scott McKewin”, and Peter Thomas, one of the best young talents the trainer has come across.
The club will now break for the off-season and resumes training in February.
