Pugilists pay scant attention to virus meltdown with full classes, chins tucked and hands up

While the rest of the world “loses its marbles” to COVID-19 terror a leading fighter’s gym in southeast Queensland rolls with the punches.

Liam Wilson with trainer Ben Harrington and Jeff Horn promoting the now postponed Jeff Horn/Costa Tszyu fight card. Pic Annette Dew

IT IS business as usual for an award-winning boxing gym north of Brisbane despite coronavirus panic.

Liam Wilson knocks out never stopped Jesus Cuadro in front of stunned crowd

Pine Rivers boxer wins world championship in resounding fashion

12-year-old prodigy wows onlookers at QLD’s ‘toughest’ boxing competition

All Star Boxing Academy (ASBA) at Pine Rivers PCYC in Bray Park has simply been rolling with the punches.

Classes were full and gym owner Ben Harrington adopted a measured approach during the widespread COVID-19 duress.

“It is hard to say how the virus will affect the boxing industry but our classes have still been full,” he said.

“We have obviously been practising crazy levels of hygiene as we go.

“I don’t know anyone who has the virus and I don’t know anyone who knows anyone with the virus.

“We can only go on as normal until we are told differently; if the kids are still going to school, sitting next to another student, then there isn’t much difference to coming to boxing.

“We’re at the PCYC and they have given us the instruction if anyone comes into contact with the virus they shut the place down for two days, they give it a clean and you come back to work.

“We have to keep rolling with the punches.”

The action hasn’t stopped at All Star Boxing Academy.

The trainer called for some normality during distinctly abnormal times.

“We’ve got to put out some positive stuff; everyone has gone into crazy panic mode,” Harrington said.

“The biggest worry I have is my parents, so what I’ll do is I won’t go and visit them.

“There is no point in everyone going crazy and losing their marbles, is there?”

However the gym has not been completely unscathed as ASBA standout Liam Wilson yesterday learned his upcoming fight on the undercard of the Jeff Horn/Costa Tszyu card would be postponed.

Originally scheduled for April 22 at the new Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville it was billed as one of the year’s most exciting cards and the surging Wilson’s seventh outing as a professional super featherweight.

“It is obviously disappointing the fight got cancelled,” Harrington said.

“But there is not a whole lot we can do about it so we just have to sit back and ride the wave, really.

$1 for 28 days: Full digital subscription

“Liam’s still training so that when everything comes good they will spring it on us that there will be a two or three week window, I would say, within which we will have to be ready to fight.”