How tragedy helped Madeline Benson discover her passion for boxing

“My uncle died and we’re a small family, so it it was a big loss,” the 23-year-old said.

“It really knocked us about as a family because my grandfather had died not all the much earlier.

“So I went to the boxing gym one day, just to take my frustrations out and get rid of some of the anger.”

She punched the bag, again and again … harder, faster … it was therapy. Just what a grieving granddaughter needed.

Six months later she had dropped 17 kilos, had stopped eating junk food, was wearing different sized clothes, training religiously and had put an end to parties.

The obvious next step was to step into the ring.

That was a couple of years ago now and she’s a committed fighter in the 64 kilogram division.

“I train twice a day every day, no shortcuts … sometimes 90 minutes, sometimes two-and-a-half hours,” she said. “

“I do everything my coach has asked. There’s no other way. Boxing is too hard a game to do it half-hearted.

“I reckon I’ve knocked back six social invitations over the past two weeks – no exaggeration.”

Madeline, of Cessnock, fights out of Ken Lantry’s gym at Weston, one of about five or six fighters there.

They’re surrounded by social trainers on a daily basis: people who come in to keep fit, work out, maybe hit the bag, but who don’t actually fight. 

By her own reckoning Madeline’s record isn’t great.

She’s had about 20 fights including exhibitions, and her record is “about 50/50”.

But she’s okay with that. 

“For me it’s about getting better each time,” she explained. “And that means choosing better fighters to go up against.

“So, if I’ve had 10 fights and lose a split decision against a person who has had 30 or 40 fights, I’m happy with that.

“I will have learned from it. I’ll be a better fighter next time because of that experience.”

Certainly the progress is there: she has been invited to Queensland next month to compete in the Australian Elite Championship. Only two fighters from each State can compete in each weight division. 

Before that she fought in the NSW King of the Ring, and more recently the National Super 8 Series. 

So what’s the goal in boxing?

“I’ve got friends who have fought in the Olympics or Commonwealth Games … I want to keep working hard and see how far it will take me.

“Everyone wants to wear green and gold. I’m no different.”