Listed: Meet nine of South Australia’s most promising junior boxers
From an undefeated country girl to Olympic hopefuls and a US championship belt winner, these are brightest talents emerging from South Australia’s boxing gyms.
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Training out of Victor Harbor, Plympton, Mount Gambier and even Kapunda, there is talent to be found in boxing gyms all across South Australia.
What these young boxers have in common is an unshakeable belief in themselves and an absolute dedication to their sport.
Faced with the choice of either going down the Olympic route or turning professional, young boxers begin thinking about their future very early on.
These nine budding talents have all made one, clear choice – to centre their lives around the sport they love.
Jay Jones
Age: 16
Club: Saberden Boxing Club, Plympton
Suburb: Seacombe Heights
Jay Jones started boxing to get fit for footy but ended up loving it so much he gave up the Aussie rules for the ring.
The Seacombe Heights teen has just arrived home after securing the Gene Lewis Tournament championship belt in Arizona in the US.
He was 12 when he got his start and has made the SA state team each year since.
Jones is so dedicated to his sport his dad has the keys to the local gym so he can train every day, either strength training, sparring or running.
Although he started training at Morphett Vale Boxing Gym, he moved over to Saberden
a year ago and recently won nationals and made the Australian team.
At 16, is on the cusp of deciding whether he wants to try out for the Olympic team or turn professional at 18.
The determined and hardworking young fighter will more than likely do both, first one and then the other.
The National Futures squad member has had 23 fights and won 18 of them moving from novice, to intermediate and now competes in the open weight – no easy feat at 57kg.
He looks up to Floyd Mayweather and Gervonta “Tank” Davis.
Achievements: Claimed the Junior Australian Championships this year and won at the Gene Lewis Tournament with the National Australian Team.
Lainesa Toutai
Age: 15
Club: SA state team, Ladd’s Boxing Gym, Mildura
City: Mildura
Lainesa Toutai grew up watching her older brothers Gab and Henry box and wanted to have a go at hitting the bag herself.
Father Lindsay Toutai used to train his sons but pushed his daughter away from the ring, discouraging her from taking up the sport.
“I tried to push her into netball, or any other sport,” Lindsay said.
But Lainesa was determined and at age nine knew she wanted to become a boxer.
Persistent and tenacious, she took it up at 12 and in the last three years has had ten wins from ten fights.
She made her fighting debut at 14, taking out the state title in her very first fight and winning gold.
Her second fight was against the third highest ranked boxer in the country and Lainesa managed to take out that win as well.
The Toutai family live in Mildura, so Lainesa has to travel five hours to compete on the SA circuit and compete for the state team.
She has always dreamt of becoming a professional fighter and is determined to be recognised as the next big thing to come out of her country town.
The undefeated champion idolises US boxer Claressa Shields and at only 15 she may meet her hero in the ring one day.
Achievements: Won the Junior Australian Championships this year, the Queen of the Ring Tournament in WA, has been selected by Boxing Australia to attend several national training camps.
Callum Peters
Age: 20
Club: North Central Boxing Club, Kapunda
Suburb: Devon Park
Callum Peters started boxing at nine, not for love of the sport but because he was “getting bashed” and lacked confidence.
First training at Northside, the Devon Park youth had his first boxing match at 14.
“I didn’t win – I didn’t know what to expect,” Peters said.
“I was a really nervous kid.
“But the best way to learn is in the ring.”
Since then Peters has had an impressive 96 fights over the last eleven years.
He is part of the Australian national team training in preparation for the Olympic qualifiers in the Solomon Islands.
The Olympic hopeful follows a strict diet and does up to three training sessions a day.
A recent Olympics ruling eliminating the 75kg weight division from boxing means Peters will have to compete at 80kg.
A humble and grounded young man, the SASI athlete will celebrate his 21st birthday while in training overseas and wouldn’t want it any other way.
Peters wants to be an inspiration to all the “young lads at home”, who look up to him.
Achievements: Won silver at the Commonwealth Games in his break out year with the Australian national team and is headed to the Solomon Islands for the Olympic qualifiers.
Freddie Zziwa
Age: 25
Club: Victor Harbour Boxing Club
Town: Victor Harbor
Originally from Uganda, Fred Zziwa moved to Australia ten years ago, when he was still a teenager and high school student.
After completing high school, he became a fully qualified chef, working at the renowned Kuti Shack at Goolwa Beach.
Athletically gifted, Zziwa tried out a number of sports before discovering boxing at Victor Harbor Boxing Club.
Coach Mark Nethercott said his athletic ability, dedication to training and mental toughness made him suitable for competition.
“He was recognised by Boxing SA and had his development fast tracked through the National Futures program,” Nethercott said.
“Seven years later he is a multiple Australian champion with a record of 47 wins and 9 losses.
“He is one of the country’s brightest professional prospects.
“Fred has struggled to find opponents willing to take him on.”
Achievements: Zziwa has defeated the Australian national titleholder in four different weight divisions and recently turned professional, debuting with a third round stoppage in his first professional fight on the Gold Coast.
Yenna Joyce
Age: 16
Club: Dwyer’s Boxing Club, Mount Gambier
City: Mount Gambier
Weighing in at 52kg, Yenna Joyce has already had two bouts, fighting a gallant three rounds both times.
The Mount Gambier teen has one win and one loss to her name and plenty more to come.
“I grew up training in Kyokushin Karate but wished to broaden my knowledge in other contact sports,” Yenna said.
“So one night I decided to try boxing with my brother but never thought that four months later I would be competing and this in love with the sport.
“I love boxing because they have the most amazing and supportive community.
“I always enjoy turning up to training and the gym has become one of my happy places.
“I also love how boxing challenges you both physically and mentally.
“Ever since I started I have noticed a huge boost in my confidence both in and out of the ring.”
Achievements: Awarded Best Junior Boxer of the Tournament 2022, has won Australian Club Championships twice, the state title twice, was selected for the girl’s national development camp 2023 and the SA team for Junior Nationals 2023.
Johee Joyce
Age: 14
Club: Dwyer’s Boxing Club, Mount Gambier
City: Mount Gambier
At only 14 years of age, Johee Joyce, Yenna’s younger brother, has had the opportunity to come against the same opponent three times in the ring.
Weathering three defeats can be tough on any boxer, but the 49kg junior has shown he has the kind of fighting spirit that will take him far.
“This is my second year boxing now,” Johee said.
“I started boxing because one of our dad’s old mates told me and my sister to swing by the gym and try out boxing, so we did.
“So far in boxing I have won a state title and competed seven times.
“I like boxing because I like the challenge of fighting an opponent and having to improve my skill in order to beat that opponent.”
Achievements: Won the SA State Titles in 2022 and competed in the Dom Polski tournament.
Holly Jaritz
Age: 16
Club: Warlocks Whyalla Gym
Suburb:Whyalla Jenkins
Weighing in at 54kg, Holly Jaritz is has the grit and passion to excel in a sport often dominated by her male counterparts even competing in the “schoolboy” championships.
She has had two matches against opponents, who outweighed her and fought a gallant three rounds against each.
“I fight out of Warlocks Whyalla Gym, where I am coached by Justin Fennell,” Jaritz said.
“I have trained for four years and started competing over the past year.
“I originally started to train as a side hobby but became very passionate about the sport, which led me to come out of my comfort zone, train harder, and take part in competition.
“I love boxing as it has helped me develop both physically and mentally.
“I have never felt more strong and confident as I do now.”
Achievements: Competed in the Australian Clubs Championship tournament in 2023 and the Australian Schoolboy Championships 2023.
Tyrese Greenwood
Age: 16
Club: Warlocks Whyalla Gym
City: Whyalla
Weighing in at around 63kg and only 16 years of age, Tyrese Greenwood can already hold his own in the ring.
“I’m a boxer from Warlocks Whyalla, run by Justin Fennell,” Greenwood said.
“I’ve been training since I was about nine years old but fighting for the last two years.
“Over the years I’ve done all different sports but I’ve learned boxing is more than just a sport – it becomes your life and the people you train with become your family.
“My idol is (fellow Australian boxer) Jesse Jones because he’s one of my biggest supporters.
“He’s an amazing fighter and he works so hard to get where he is and I’ve looked up to him since the day I started boxing.”
Achievements: Has had one bout so far, fighting a hard three rounds at the King of the Ring tournament resulting in a defeat.
Isaiah Buckingham
Age: 13
Club: Victor Harbor Boxing Club
Town: Goolwa
At just 13 Isaiah Buckingham is the youngest up-and-coming boxer on this list.
“I joined Victor Harbor Boxing Club in 2022 as I was having trouble at school and I heard this was a good outlet to control my anger,” the Goowla teen said.
“I’ve learnt so many new skills and enjoy training several times a week.”
Achievements: Has had four fights and two wins and won the Australia Club Championship in his weight category in May this year.
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