WHEN Jack Denahy wanted to give boxing a go, it took some convincing to get his dad, Chris Denahy on board.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo mate,\u201d Mr Denahy would say, aware of the risks. \u201cStick with your plumbing. It\u2019s not good for you.\u201d<\/p>\n
But when he realised he couldn\u2019t stop his son from pursuing his interest in the sport, he decided to support him \u201call the way.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Denahy is very proud, and rightfully so. Now a 20-year-old, Denahy became the Lightweight Australian Elite Champion boxer earlier this month up in Brisbane.<\/p>\n
Denahy attributes the big win to his mental preparedness. In this sport that is \u201c90 per cent mental\u201d and very gruelling, he understands how risky boxing can be.<\/p>\n
He values constant visualisation of success, positive affirmations and the support of his generous, selfless sponsors.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re not trying to get behind me for themselves, they\u2019re just generally trying to help someone who\u2019s putting everything towards their dream.\u201d<\/p>\n
Denahy works at Oscars Hotel and Caf\u00e9 Bar on weekends, trains twice a day and commutes from Ballarat to East End boxing in Croydon five times a week.<\/p>\n
\u201cEast End widened my game so much. Almost every time you\u2019re in there, you\u2019re in a state of competition because the sparring partners and the trainers are so good.\u201d<\/p>\n
Outside the boxing bubble, Denahy has lived in Buninyong all his life, attending Buninyong Primary School and St Patrick\u2019s College.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s great to have a lot of local support behind me, backing me.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said he\u2019s always been an active kid, growing up playing golf, going mountain biking, doing gymnastics and mixed martial arts.<\/p>\n
Fighting, however, was something he\u2019d never tried until his teens and with a bit of research, he ended up at Brawl – now Body Connect – in Ballarat\u2019s CBD.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe first session I ever did, I just knew that was what I wanted to do with my life. I just fell in love with it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Denahy\u2019s first boxing coach was Clinton Vermaak who is \u201cecstatic\u201d about the Australian Championship title.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe called it on the first day,\u201d Mr Vermaak said. \u201cHe came into the gym and he said he wanted to be a world champion and he\u2019s halfway there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Denahy is now looking ahead, as he prepares for The Pacific Games in Samoa and World Championships in Russia in 2019, and potentially the Olympics in 2020.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel I\u2019ll make an impact on the international scene,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Having watched his son\u2019s growth, success and positivity, Mr Denahy is amazed at all he\u2019s achieved with boxing.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe showed me.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
WHEN Jack Denahy wanted to give boxing a go, it took some convincing to get his dad, Chris Denahy on board. \u201cNo mate,\u201d Mr Denahy would say, aware of the risks. \u201cStick with your plumbing. It\u2019s not good for you.\u201d But when he realised he couldn\u2019t stop his son from pursuing his interest in the […]<\/p>\n