BOXING: Savannah Marshall and Adam Gilchrist are athletes from very different backgrounds, but they share one common interest – 19-year-old Perth boxer, Caitlin Parker.
If the Perth teenager makes it to next year’s Rio Olympics, you can guarantee she’ll single out British world boxing champion, Marshall, and Australian cricket legend, Gilchrist.
Because both have played big roles in getting Parker on track in 2015, and primed for a tilt at Olympic glory next year.
Parker recently returned from Europe, where she spent hours sparring with Marshall in her Hartlepool gym, and has this year benefitted from the mentorship of the former Australian wicketkeeper.
“He’s been my mentor for 2015, but we have such a good relationship that I’m sure we’ll keep up communications into the future,” Parker said.
“We catch up for coffee all the time. He calls me up before I fight or straight after, offering advice on dealing with big crowds and the expectations. He tries to pick me up if I get a bit down.”
This week Parker will look to use that advice, and the experience of sparring with Marshall, when she competes at the Australian Boxing Championships on the Gold Coast.
The Youth Olympics bronze medalist was bitterly disappointed to lose a split points decision to Commonwealth Games boxer, Kaye Scott, at the Australian titles earlier this year, and is out for revenge.
“I’m not such a different boxer, I’m an improved boxer,” Parker said from Perth.
“I’m working on different things, I’ve learned from that loss, and I know what I have to do to fix it.
“Everyone will see that this weekend.”
Parker picked up two bronze medals during her European campaign, touring with Commonwealth Games gold medalist Shelley Watts and Australian 51kg title holder, Kristy Harris,
While that itself was a great achievement, it was made even more meritorious considering her disastrous start to her tour.
“I had to deal with illness when I got to Russia,” she said.
“I accidently drank the water there. I got really ill the day before I fought.
“It was horrible, being away from home and being sick. I dealt with it alright, I still managed to get in the ring, surprisingly.
“But after the first round I tired out, because I was feeling a bit nauseous and dizzy.”
There’s been a buzz surrounding Parker ever since talent scouts first spotted her as a raw 14-year-old.
The decision to pair her up with Gilchrist further underlined the belief she has what it takes, and Parker herself now also believes she can go all the way.
“I feel like they believe I can do it, so I believe I can,” she said.
“People believe in me so I push myself because of people’s expectations of me.
“I feel very confident. I know I’m very strong, I know what I have to do. I definitely believe I’ll win the Olympic trials.
“I am a little bit small for my weight division, but what I have over my opponents is speed and accuracy. I’m very fast compared to most boxers, and I’m very relaxed in the ring, and I feel I have that over my opponents.”
The 75kg women’s division is one of the toughest fields on this weekend’s program, with qualification for next year’s Women’s World Championships, and a chance to get to Rio, the attractive carrot dangling at the end.
And if it comes down to a Saturday night final between Parker and Scott, you can guarantee the winner will have well and truly earned that carrot.
Ross Solly
Boxing Australia
