VICTORIAN Amatuer Boxing League’s super welterweight belt is firmly back in the Loddon.
Bridgewater’s Hamish Catto took out the title bout this month in Footscray.
He had eight fights in the lead-up to the championship encounter that came just over two years after taking up the sport.
“It was back in COVID, football was cancelled and I was looking for something that would keep me fit,” Catto said.
“I was talking to a mate and he told me about the classes he was running and I decided to give it a go.”
The Serpentine footballer said boxing had initially been for fitness.
“Then I started training for a competition bout in Bendigo and won that,” Catto said.
“My win-loss ratio since then has not been all that good but I don’t get hung up about it.
“There have been no easy fights for me to accrue a better ratio.”
Catto said he would now take a break from the competitive ring to help other boxers in the Bendigo Fight Centre stable prepare for bouts.
He is a partner in the centre with three friends, including trainer Lucas Allen.
“Best for me to chill for a little while and help others get ready,” Catto said.
The champion boxer said he had been training up to six days a week before the title bout. “The coaches I have had are good and experienced and that has really helped me progress in the sport,” he said.
“The strong training routine has helped inject composure and fitness in my style and I guess it all came together in the bout to decide the Victorian regional super welterweight division title.
Super welterweight is one of 17 recognised divisions and for boxers between 67kg and 70kg in weight.
- CHRIS EARL