Quiet 15-year-old becomes Slammin' Sam in the boxing ring

BOXING: Sam Cameron-Hands is one kid whose lunch money you wouldn’t want to steal.

FOCUSED BOXER: Sam Cameron-Hands, 15, continues to impress, having claimed the 57kg gold medal at the Australian Titles. Picture: Contributed

BOXING: Sam Cameron-Hands is one kid whose lunch money you wouldn't want to steal.

The 15-year-old was crowned Australia's 57kg junior boxing champion at the Australian Amateur National Boxing Titles on the Gold Coast in April and is on his way to what looks set to be a fruitful career.

Having taken up the art of pugilism about five years ago, the Noosa District State High School Grade 11 student is a quietly spoken, respectful lad to talk to.

But when he steps into the ring, he becomes Slammin' Sam, a 54.5kg power pack who can dismantle his opponents with a combination of technique and power.

His latest exploits in the ring have earned him selection on the Australian team headed to Russia for the World Junior Championships in St Petersburg at the end of September.

"It's amazing (being national champion)," Sam said.

"It took a really long time to sink in.

"Winning the national title, it's opened a whole other window of opportunity for me."

Sam's coach, Mark Evans is head coach and owner of Impact Boxing Academy at Cooroy. A regional development coach with Boxing Australia, Evans said his young charge had talent in spades and the determination to match.

"He's (Sam) got a really good boxing brain," Evans said. "He sees things that other kids can't yet and he's powerful.

"He punches so hard he hits like a 70kg man."

Evans said Sam was well on the radar of national selectors now, his selection as one of a seven-strong contingent heading to Russia was evidence of that.

Evans said the plans were now well under way to prepare Sam for a crack at higher honours, including the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

"He's so experienced," Evans said.

"He's had 49 fights at 15 and he's won multiple state titles, national titles, golden gloves, Wide Bay titles.

"We're gearing him now towards getting ready for the 2018 Comm Games."

Surprisingly, the orthodox fighter wasn't the first in his family to take up the age-old art. Younger brother Ben first took it up, but it didn't take long for Sam to fall in love with boxing.

Too modest to admit it, Sam's trained with Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao's camps in a dream boxing trip to the US last year.

Evans was confident that his young fighter had all the ingredients to enjoy a stellar amateur career.

"He is one of the most focused kids I've ever seen in the gym, he's 100% focused on what he's doing and he's in the gym five nights a week and still and A-grade student," Evans said.

Sam heads to Canberra for an Australian Institute of Sport training camp today, as he begins building towards the World Championships in September.