LESS than 48 hours after their second professional bouts, Brad Morgan and Matt Hall were back in the gym readying for their next.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Such is the life of a pro-boxer.
It's of course nothing new for the great mates, whose careers in the ring have paralleled each others.
Morgan and Hall arrived at the California Gully gym of trainers Pat and Gary Connolly roughly at the same time about three years ago.
The pair quickly became training and sparring partners and have willed each other on, first during their amateur careers and now in the professional ranks.
Both have had two professional fights under the umbrella of Bendigo-based Hosking Promotions - both are undefeated.
Morgan boasts the slightly more impressive record of two wins, his latest a second round knockout of New South Welshman Barry Toomey in Warrnambool on Saturday night.
Earlier that night, Hall scored a draw against tall Mount Gambier middleweight Sam Jakutavicius, in a bout most, including those in his opponent's corner, thought the Bendigo boxer had done enough to earn the points.
Morgan said his win was a simple case of "sticking to the game plan".
"I could hear what Pat wanted me to do and I kept to my capabilities," he said.
"He was an odd opponent, different to what I am used to.
"He was a lot smaller than what I am used to, which is different, as I am used to training with these boys (at California Gully) and I am one of the lightest ones here now.
"That's why Matt's a real good sparring partner for me - I didn't get a lot of opportunity to spar with other people from other gyms much unfortunately."
It seemed everything went right for the hard-punching Bendigonian.
"Even my entrance song started on time, which it didn't last time," he joked in reference to a malfunction back at Bendigo Stadium last November.
Morgan is barely recognisable from the teenager who walked through the Connollys' door as a teenage hopeful.
He weighed close to 100 kilograms - he's now 64.5.
That's one kilogram up from the weight he fought at in his professional debut when he was awarded fighter of the night for his impressive knockout win on the Battle on the Goldfields card.
He expects to drop back to 63.5 for his next fight In Bendigo on June 11.
"I feel I am a lot more confident in the ring than when I first started," he said.
"I still get nervous, which is normal, but I believe in myself a lot more.
"I feel the training is really paying off."
Nineteen-year-old Hall said despite a draw in his bout, he had learned plenty against a much taller opponent and also a southpaw.
"I thought I did enough to win the fight and so did many other people, but that's boxing I guess, you move on," he said.
"Like Brad, I was straight back in here Monday.
"I'll work harder and get the win next time."
Hall said he enjoyed working out with Morgan because of the clash in styles and believed both of them could forge long careers in the ring.
"It's always a hard spar and I feel like we both get plenty out of it," he said.
"We are looking to develop ourselves and get better and this is definitely.
“As Pat (Connolly) said early one we would need each other throughout our careers.”