Once overweight, boxer Malcolm now a Youth Olympics, world contender
Malcolm Matthes was heavily overweight for his 16 years, struggled at school and was sliding into the wrong side of life due to the company he was keeping.
Local Sports Stars
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BEFORE entering the boxing ring merely to shed weight and gain a purpose in life, Malcolm Matthes was heavily overweight for his 16 years, struggled at school and was sliding into the wrong side of life due to the company he was keeping.
Boxing saved his life and is now giving the Bonnyrigg teenager a shot at becoming a Youth Olympic and world championship medallist, after he qualified for both events.
Matthes, nominated for the Local Sports Star Awards by his admiring sister Christina for turning his life around, is himself surprised at how far he has come since those bad days.
“I am amazed at what I have been to achieve in boxing because this is the only sport I have participated in,” Matthes said.
“I decided I had to do something for the sake of myself and my mother as I was hanging around the wrong kind of people.
“In December 2016, I joined the Fairfield Cabramatta PCYC to take up boxing and lose weight.
“This gave me a headstart because I loved boxing and has been training under Alani Moala since then.
“Alani has given me motivation and guided me.”
Matthes not only shed more than 20kg but he began winning competitive fights, despite taking on a massive opponent in his very first bout.
The 180cm tall Matthes fights in the heavyweight class and will represent Samoa at the Youth Olympics at Buenos Aires, Argentina, in October after failing to win the Australian qualifier.
Before that the hard punching Mattes will compete at the world zmateur boxing championships in Budapest, Hungary, in August.
“I am training six days a week for both competitions and I feel I am in good shape,” Matthes said.
“I lost the Australian qualifier but I then beat this same opponent in another fight.”
According to sister Christina Matthes, “Malcolm owes his life to boxing.”
“He has learnt discipline, routine and respect and overall it has had a positive influence on his life. He has displayed a mature attitude in all aspect of his lifem” she said.
“Malcolm had grown so much in such a short space of time and displays dedication and perseverance to his sport as well as willingness to better himself.
“Within the sport he has develop a great sense of community within the boxing community
“At the PCYC where he mentors young boxer, providing guidance and support for kids who like at him were troubled and misunderstood.
“Malcolm had used all of his pains, lost and heartache to channel into a positive outlet and give back to the community.”
■ To nominate someone or a team for LSS, visit: localsportsstars.com.au