After years of blood, sweat and tears, Mooroopna’s Christopher ‘’Bomber Boy’’ Boland, 16, will finally get an opportunity to show off his boxing skills as he makes his fighting debut in Burwood on Saturday night.
A proud Yorta Yorta boy, Boland first came to the GV Boxing Academy as part of its Indigenous Program, where head coach Zedda Harrington immediately saw great promise in his athletic ability and boxing IQ.
Now set to take his talents to the bright lights of Melbourne, Boland will go up 2kg to fight in the Featherweight division against an opponent that has yet to be determined, after initial fighter Corey Haas pulled out with injury.
Set to be decked out in a completely new kit courtesy of sponsor Fast Brew Coffee, Boland said he couldn’t wait to get into the ring and show what he has to offer.
“I am pretty pumped, I have been through a lot of sweat and tears and have had a lot of stuff going on for the last couple of months, so I just put my head down and stayed committed to working in the gym,” Boland said.
“I am super stoked they gave me this opportunity; I have been coming here (GV Boxing) for a while now and they have seen that I had it in me, I had an exhibition in Bendigo where I went all right and they gave me my debut.
“When it comes to Saturday night it will be on brother.”
Fighting has always been in the blood of the teen, initially picking up boxing from a young age before going on a brief hiatus due to work and schooling commitments.
He said it was his uncle Michael Bourke who rekindled his love for the sport, bringing him into the GV Boxing Academy where he quickly settled in.
“I was boxing over in Shepparton when I was younger, but then I fell out of interest and started doing some other stuff, and then my uncle, Michael Bourke, ended up bringing me in and I found I had the potential to really become something,” he said.
“I just love to fight, I was brought up to fight, I’ve now chosen to take that off the street and bring it into the gym, instead of getting in trouble I have been able to channel that energy into the ring as I hope to really become something.”
Adding extra motivation to his fighting endeavours was the recent loss of two of his best friends, as he honours their memory every time he takes to the ring.
Boland said boxing had allowed him to make some positive changes in his life as he strives to become the best he can possibly be.
“Boxing has been a big thing for me over the last 12 months, I have lost two of my best mates recently, so being able to come to the gym has really helped me get over it as I keep making positive changes in my life,” he said.
“When I go out and fight I do it for them, a lot of anger and things I have built I take it out on the bag and my opponents, it is a safe space for me, and I just love it.
“Boxing has also given me the chance to be a role model in the community, the way I grew up they have seen a change in me and seen I’ve had potential, the support I’ve got from the community has been great and now I am keen to give back.”
Boland’s rapid development has taken the GV Boxing Academy by storm, with Harrington itching with excitement to see what he can produce on the big stage of Victorian boxing.
“I give him a red-hot go (to do well), as soon as I saw him, I knew straight away that he had that potential, he has the athletic ability, he had the grit and the determination, so I have just been fine-tuning to get his ring smarts up to scratch,” Harrington said.
“I feel that if he can keep the discipline and the commitment, he can go all the way, and I have been around the sport for 20-odd years now and I’ve seen them all, he has just got it, so hopefully he can stick at it because the world is his.”