But neither Brad Morgan or Dino Rafaeles has stepped through the ropes for a professional fight in well over 12 months.

In the case of Rafaeles, it's been three years.

The Vinton Street Gym (VSG) pair hopes 2021 will be the year their stop-start careers reignite.

Liker many sportspeople, COVID-19 certainly did the promising professionals no favours during 2020, with lockdown and the state's ever-changing restrictions prohibiting them from attending the California Gully-based gym for at least six months.

The pair returned to Vinton Street a little over a month ago, cautiously optimistic that the worse in terms of the pandemic is over.

They are now looking forward to what the new year might bring.

Rafaeles said while having to put his boxing training on hold for six months was unfortunate, in the wider scheme of things, he still had much to be thankful for in comparison to others.

"I've been pretty lucky, being able to work (through lockdown) when a lot of other people couldn't," he said.

"I'm a tradie - a concreter - so there were things to do, not like people working indoors, and I was able to do it. Some people lost jobs."

There was plenty of cause for joy too with the birth of he and partner Thelma's second child Adeline in July, a sister for six-year-old Joseph.

Rafaeles said he was, at first, a little apprehensive about returning to training and admitted the first week or so was a 'real hard slog'.

"But the first week of sparring felt pretty good," he said.

The 28-year-old, whose four professional fights have all been staged overseas in the Philippines, is hoping a significant enough improvement in the COVID lookout leads to the resumption of his promising in-ring career.

"I don't care who it is against, or even if it's my weight division. I can go up one (to bantamweight)," Rafaeles said.

"The last one was three years ago .... that's too long.

"But you don't know what might happen. We can't really travel overseas, and it's pretty tough getting fights in Australia."

Morgan, who is 7-0, with his last win coming in October 2019 in the Philippines, also found solace during lockdown in the birth of he and partner Talicia's third child Emmy (born October 14), a sister for Brydie and Aria.

Following a short break over Christmas, he said it was great to be back in 'full-training' and making use of the VSG's new facilities, after months away due to COVID-19 in 2020.

"It was pretty frustrating (being away), but it was good for me to spend more time with the kids and get more family time," he said.

"I did miss the training - I was getting withdrawals. As weird as that is, I did get fitness withdrawals.

"I guess 2020 did slow my career down a bit, but I just hope to pick things up again at the end of this year, or mid-year. But it's really a matter of wait and see with COVID."

Morgan said the move outdoors following the installation of a temporary outdoor gym and boxing ring had helped smooth the transition back into training.

"Sometimes inside the gym it gets to 45 degrees, being outside it's much cooler and there's a bit of shade," he said.

"It's been good being able to catch up with everyone again and see Pat and Gary (Connolly) again. I hadn't seen them for a while during COVID."

READ MORE:

In safe hands: Vinton Street Gym goes outdoors | Video

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