Caitlin Beckett: Young Ringwood boxer fighting the stereotypes as much as her opponents

Though going in a little short of where she would have liked preparation-wise, 17-year-old Ringwood boxer Caitlin Beckett recently returned from Apia in Samoa with a Youth Oceania Championship title in her kit bag.

Ringwood’s Caitlin Beckett is setting herself for the Youth World Championships in Hungary Picture: Hamish Blair

Though going in a little short of where she would have liked preparation-wise, 17-year-old Ringwood boxer Caitlin Beckett recently returned from Apia in Samoa with a Youth Oceania Championship title in her kit bag.

“I like to know that before going in that I’ve done everything I can,” she said.

“This fight I took on late notice. Boxing Australia didn’t think I was going but then, just before, they said I was.

“Probably wasn’t the best preparation but I still believed in myself and once I got there I felt ready to go.

“You’ve got to be ready to fight all year round.”

Caitlin’s win in Samoa has qualified her for the Youth World Championships in Hungary next month.

“I’m preparing for Hungary, I’ll have a solid seven weeks of lead-ups and training camps,” she said. “It gives me great confidence going in.”

Caitlin was a keen basketballer until, in 2014, some friends dragged down to the local gym for a boxing session.

Caitlin Beckett with her Oceania Youth Championships medal. Picture: Hamish Blair

“It was the first session and I just fell in love with it,” she said. “I’d stay behind afterwards and watch the others spar.

“My parents didn’t want me to do it, it took me a while to convince them.”

Indeed, Caitlin has spent much of her career jabbing at stereotypes as much as opponents.

“A lot of people say ‘oh you’re so pretty, why are doing boxing? Aren’t you afraid you’ll get your nose broken?’

“And I just say ‘boxing is the art of hitting and NOT getting hit’.”

The talented youngster is combining a heavy workload — five nights in the boxing gym every week with four or five running sessions thrown in — with her Year 12 studies at Ringwood Secondary College.

“It’s tricky and it’s taken a lot of discipline,” she said.

Caitlin trains under the guidance of veteran trainer Brian Levier, whose stable currently includes Commonwealth Games gold medallist Harry Garside.

Caitlin Beckett is a Local Sports Star nominee. For more stories and to nominate, visit: heraldsun.com.au/leader/localsportsstars

Caitlin Beckett goes to work with trainer Brian Levier. Picture: Hamish Blair