ARGUABLY more so than other sports, the sweet science is a tight-walk of truisms.
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The controversial exponent, Mike Tyson, knew this better than most when he quipped “everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth”.
Kempsey PCYC coach Adam ‘Rocky’ Fathers also understands.
“I know to be a champion you’ve got to be a champion trainer. This boy’s a champion trainer,” Fathers told the Argus of his young charge Levi Langham.
The rising fast 15-year-old from Arakoon is already an accomplished martial artist, attaining a black belt in karate. And he’s been making hay in the summer shine as a boxer of absolute potential.
While Iron Mike spoke of a fist in the face – squaring off with Levi could lead to a sizzling uppercut as much as it could a withering roundhouse kick, both likely one-way tickets to nigh-nigh land.
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Having just been awarded the Kempsey PCYC’s Trainer of the Year and Junior Boxer of the Year awards, the Year 10 St Paul’s College product is looking to 2019 as a bustout inside the ropes.
“As active as we can be … we’ll fight as often as possible,” Rocky said of the coming campaign.
Dad Jason said on the immediate horizon that includes the Sydney Fight League Pro/Am, North Sydney Leagues Club, on February 23, then a Pro/Am at Doyalson on the Central Coast on March 2.
Levi, a southpaw whose fighting weight is up to around 63kg, said his goal was to continue to develop his skills and technique.
And coach Rocky added: “I’m still learning every day and I’m happy to knock-off ideas from other trainers to improve.”
Watch Levi and Rocky dance at Kempsey PCYC:
That progressive attitude combined with Levi – a youngster who laps up the hard yakka at training – gives them the best chance of further success.
On the boxing front, Levi – already a dual Australian Schoolboys Golden Gloves winner – plans a shot at State and possibly National titles in the under 16 years’ divisions.
And karate too, will get a good fly.
“I’ll be going for my red dan mid-year,” Levi said, when his sister, 12-year-old Shahni, will also attempt a black belt grading.
Dad Jason said he is happy to encourage but not push the youngsters in their sport, and said Levi will contest the International Sport Karate Association World Cup this year – which he won in 2017, but didn’t enter in 2018.
Levi was one of the very few fronting the gym on a stinky hot Kempsey afternoon on Monday. But he was there – wearing a long-sleeved Spider-Man shirt and all – as he bounced around the ring with Rocky. Peter Parker would have approved.
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