Gold Coast lawyers Campbell MacCallum reveals how boxing’s helped him beat mental demons
A TOP Gold Coast lawyer stepping into the boxing ring says the training has helped fight off a heavy mental toll from work and personal pressures.
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A TOP Gold Coast lawyer stepping into the boxing ring says the training has helped fight off a heavy mental toll from work and personal pressures.
Criminal lawyer Campbell MacCallum, bravely admitted stress was starting to get on top of him and said he did not want to become “a statistic”.
He said recent training for a three-round corporate fight was “a saving grace”.
The Moloney MacCallum Lawyers partner said a combination of long hours, concern for client outcomes, a break-up and regularly dealing with “murder and mayhem” in his professional role was mentally exhausting.
“Over the last two to three years I had been feeling the pressure of intense work situations coupled with intense private life matters,” he said.
“No one is bulletproof and I started to realise mentally I was becoming fairly exhausted.
“I thought unless something was done I didn’t want to be statistic, turning to alcohol abuse or other things a lot of people turn to self-medicate,” the 42-year-old said, saying he found it hard to say no to anyone who walked through his office door needing help.
“Having had clients commit suicide and in a profession where the suicide rate is high, it needs to be acknowledged,” he said.
“It is difficult to speak about if you are portrayed as macho and manly.
“It’s not like men are wired to offload their issues.
“But the more of us who make others aware it’s not abnormal to have these feelings and it’s okay to try and resolve that through whatever outlet possible, the better.”
He has been doing three boxing sessions a week under ex-world champion and Olympian Michael Katsidis in the lead-up to a November 25 bout in Toowoomba.
Mr MacCallum said Katisidis, operating out of his new Pro Coach Academy at Burleigh, was getting him to block out everything but boxing.
“Michael is incredibly mentally strong and focused. He gets me to the point of physical exhaustion and mentally makes me block out professional and home life.
“He sits me down for a talk afterwards and says, ‘I don’t want you to think about anything other than these physical achievements and what you’ve accomplished here today’.
“It has refreshed me completely.
“I think I will be nervous on the night but excited – and confident I’ll be able to handle myself.”
Mr MacCallum fights fellow Gold Coast lawyer Jeff Horsey, 39, over three rounds at Rumours International to raise awareness for Toowoomba’s push to have a permanent neurosurgeon.
Their slugfest will be one of three corporate fights on a card, including the Australian Super-Featherweight title bout between Gold Coaster Matt Casboult and Toowoomba’s Brent Rice.
Fight night organiser Brendon Smith, whose 23-year-old son Braydon died from a brain bleed after a 10-round bout in Toowoomba 18 months ago, said he appreciated the Coast support and admired the two lawyers for getting in the ring.
“I can’t thank them enough for people on the Gold Coast to support what we are doing.”
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