Lachlan Harrington after dropping some weight to reach his desired fighting division.
They’ve been calling it the sweet science for over 200 years. Why you might ask?
Boxing requires boxers to be fierce, tactical, and have a certain amount of anticipation for their opponents’ next move. It takes logic and science to be able to create an environment where it’s all possible to hit and not be hit.
The recent main event fight between Australian George Kambosos and American Devin Haney saw how those who just want to slug it out can be found wanting. However, when it comes down to a battle of wills, those who can take a punch and deliver plenty, often come out on top.
Boxing requires hard work, dedication, blood, sweat and tears. They separate the wheat from the chaff pretty quickly in the world of professional boxing. For those starting out at The Valley Boxing Gym in Yass, it’s much more about participation and involvement and progression at the level each athlete can handle.
Owner Aaron Reid has been there and done that. A former state champion himself on a number of occasions, he has fought internationally six times, including a silver medal in a Russian tournament and a career spanning 70 fights. He knows what it takes to train athletes and mentor young men and women.
Aaron says that boxing has given him the ability to read a situation and adapt very quickly. “When you have punches getting thrown at you, you have to learn to see and think very quickly, you can transfer that to real life when needed. You can be calm in situations in real life and make good decisions.”
Aaron’s gym is going from strength to strength with the gym’s young boxers stepping up and taking on plenty of fights in their pursuit of the sweet science and its perfection. Since opening the gym in December 2020 Valley Boxing continues to be on the rise.
Aaron is very happy with how some of his charges have been performing.
One boxer, Lachlan Harrington, came to the gym looking to lose some weight. Aaron said, “This young kid came to me just looking to lose weight, and gain confidence. His mum Lorraine, and Lachlan, surrendered themselves to me. If I said be here at this time, eat this, run this amount of kilometres, come to this camp, nominate for this fight, most looking from the outside would have thought we were mad. On the 6th of July Lachlan will represent ACT at nationals as ACT champion.
The Valley Boxing Gym were part of a contingent of fighters who represented ACT in Melbourne and Queanbeyan at the end of May. Aaron was also selected as coach of the squad. Although they didn’t get the wins they wanted, they all fought well. Aaron said, “Mitch, Edan, and Jesse went down in points decisions, while Lachlan got caught early by a strong opponent in Queanbeyan. A lot of lessons learnt by everyone and we will come back stronger.”
“You learn more from your losses than your wins. It’s about developing. They are kids, they are learning, two of them fought Victorian champions. We are fighting the best in the states now. You have a winner and a loser in boxing, I’m not too worried about the results”.
Six of Aarons fighters will take on challengers this Sunday in Canberra before looking to more Melbourne bouts.
Aaron’s gym is proving popular and is attracting plenty of interest from having a good price point compared to city gyms.
He said, “I have always been upfront with the boxers. Some will go on to become trainers and others will go on to higher levels, it comes down to each boxer.”
The state titles will be held on the 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th of July at the White Horse Club in Melbourne. Aaron said, “It’s becoming a second home to some of these kids.”
It’s an exciting time for the gym with many of the young boxers hitting their straps.
There is no rest for some of the gym’s top fighters as they prepare for Melbourne.
“The Valley Boxing Gym will function as normal on Monday. Success doesn’t take a day off, see you all there.”
Aaron and his young boxers will continue to take to the ring and bounce around the canvas in their pursuit of the sweet science. We all know how sweet victory can be.
Best of luck to the Valley Boxing Gym.