Boxing: Ellenbrook home to newly crowned world champ

UNBEKNOWN to many, Ellenbrook is home to a newly crowned world champion.

Anthony Hawkins has just returned from Kansas City in the US, where he took out Masters 35 and over division at the largest amateur boxing competition in the world, the Ringside Boxing World Championships.

The fly-in fly-out utility worker’s four weeks on one week off roster means he spends most of his time in the Pilbara.

However, that does not stop him from getting to a gym.

“The gym is 24/7, so it means I can get in there whenever,” he said.

“I work nine hour shifts so I usually get in at 5am.

“Sometimes I wake up and I’m a bit sore and I think ‘I’d love a day off,’ but I wanted to win a world championship and the only way is to go and do the work.”

When Anthony is in Perth, he trains at Transform 24/7 Ellenbrook.

Trainer Harley Parkes said Anthony came to the gym just three months out from his competition.

“Anthony’s efforts in his training were second to none,” he said.

“Despite having pre-existing training injury, he gave it 110 percent in every session.

“Ultimately, Anthony’s passion and dedication to his sport resulted in his well-deserved win in Kansas City.”

A relatively newcomer to the sport, the 43-year-old first had a crack at boxing in 2012.

At his debut fight, Hawkins he was the silver medallist in the super lightweight (64kg) Masters division.

Six months later at the World Championships, a persistent Hawkins settled for silver again.

“I fought in the final but just lost,” he said.

“It was heartbreaking, but that’s the game, that’s the sport.

“It made me want to keep training harder for the next fight.”

Hawkins said he was working hard towards his next fight in Queensland in November, where he will drop to the 60 kg division.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge,” he said.

“And of course defending my title again in the US next year.”