Boedan Nelson at training.
GLANCING at many of the newspaper clippings on the walls at the Bendigo Amateur Boxing Club gym in California Gully is a huge source of inspiration for Boedan Nelson.
Dotted across the walls are reports on the exploits by the likes of Lynden and Scott Hosking, Justin Whitehead, and many more who have been trained by Pat Connolly and his younger brother, Gary.
Although he’s in the early days of the fighting game, 17-year-old Nelson has his sights sets on competing at the Olympics, just as Lynden Hosking did, or Commonwealth Games, a la Whitehead, and nationals, just like Scott Hosking.
Boxing pedigree is with Nelson as his uncle, Robbie Peden represented Australia.
Nelson capped his first campaign in the Victorian Amateur Boxing Association state championships by winning Sunday’s final for the youth (under-19) 57kg division.
Nelson faced Ballarat’s Zac Robertson in the decider which was scheduled to be three rounds of two-minutes at Brunswick’s Reggio Calabria Club.
After facing a scoreline of 2-5 at the end of the first round, Nelson fought back brilliantly to lead 8-7 with one round to go.
By the end of the contest he led 15-10 in what was a winning hat-trick from a state titles campaign which began in late November.
“Winning the state championship means a lot to me,” Nelson said from near the ring at Connolly’s gym.
“I worked really hard in training and in every match.”
The teenager also endured the topsy-turvy emotions any sporting contest can provide.
“I didn’t start so well in the final, but Pat told me to keep on moving, stay out of trouble, and to jab a lot more.”
By the end of round two Nelson’s confidence and, more importantly the scoreline, was a positive.
A left-hook in the second round resulted in Robertson and his corner having to try and steem the flow from a bloodied nose.
“By the last round I thought he was tiring a bit, but had to just keep on getting in as many scoring punches as I could,” Nelson said.
Boxing was something Nelson was always keen to do.
“The past six months I have worked really hard improving my technique and fitness.”
While Pat Connolly plays a key role on technique and tactics, Garry’s fitness regime has helped Nelson increase endurance and strength.
Away from the boxing ring, Nelson is a first-year student in horticulture and landscaping at Bendigo Regional Institute of TAFE.
Just when his next boxing bout will be is yet to be decided.
For the time being it’s training every weeknight in the gym where other boxing champions have learnt and worked at their craft.