When Riley Bartlett walked into the Sapphire Academy of Sports (SAS) gym two years ago, he had never put on a boxing glove, never faced an opponent, never taped up his hand to batter a speed bag, never skipped rope.
“I was scared,” he said. “A bit nervous.”
Two years later, the Inverell fighter has bested the odds, taking home the 15-year-old championship belt on 29 June at a major Gold Coast fight night, sponsored by Urban Warfare Promotions. He’s hungry for his next fight.
Riley trains two hours a day, five days a week to reach a goal of improving, learning, and getting the wins in the ring.
“He only time he’s never come here is when he’s sick, and he still tries to come in and we’ve got to tell him no,” SAS general supervisor Daniel Stashynsky said.
Transformation from quiet and lost to something special
SAS gym founder and manager Darren Finn is a main hand in Riley’s transformation from a beginner to the determined young fighter, working alongside his brother Dean Finn to train the young talent.
The gym is a social enterprise of Inverell’s Jobs Australia Enterprises and serves as a launching place for young locals who are looking for direction, skill development, confidence building, and a supportive community.
Darren said the laconic teenager had come into the gym, quiet, feeling a bit lost and searching for much-needed confidence. Within a short space of time, they all recognised the makings of something special.
“What really showed us he had something was his first fight, about a year ago. We didn’t know he’d be ready, because we sort of wanted an exhibition, not a fight,” Darren said.
Riley faced up to a rival in the 52kg class who was several inches taller with a longer reach, and the outcome of the match-up in a full fight scenario was anyone’s guess.
“When the bell went, the kid came at Riley and just whacked him, and Riley sunk it in him. He just went at him, and he would not take a step backwards and just fought.
“He won every round, and he got his hand raised.”
Humility and a smile
Darren said Riley took in that first win with a quiet smile, turning his focus on training and improving rather than bragging about his victory.
“I think we jumped around more than him. Even when he succeeded with the title belt, he did nothing,” Darren said.
“Him excited is getting that smile out of him,” Daniel added.
Riley copped a loss in May, when he fought Owen Meakins of Body Shot Boxing, and he said it was weighing on his mind before the Gold Coast night.
Despite that, Darren said Riley bounces back from losses with unusual confidence, previously coming back from another loss by winning two fights in one night. That skill and tenacity turned the heads of promoters, earning Riley the 29 June title shot in Mermaid Waters.
But the opportunity flipped the script, four days out from the fight. Riley had previously faced the booked fighter, Joseph Foley, with promoters eager to see a rematch between the two, but Foley was injured. Instead of cancelling, the rival gym put forward their southpaw Jayden Randall, and the opposite of what Riley expected.
“This kid that he fought was a southpaw, and short and sleek, where we were preparing for a tall, lanky, rangy kid that stayed on the outside,” Darren said.
“We decided, because it was only four days out, not to get his mind freaking out, and putting him all through this different training.
“We just said keep throwing the combinations you’re throwing, and we’ll work it out on the night.”
Managing nerves and thinking fast
Riley said he felt a bit nervous coming back the loss in May as he entered the Gold Coast ring.
“But I still had my confidence that I could win,” he said.
“He definitely beat me the first round, but I came back harder in the next couple rounds, just trying to figure out how his style was,” Riley said.
“As the instructions were given to him, Riley was taking the instructions,” Darren said.
“But Riley himself started to realise this kid was throwing a jab, and Riley was able to counter him with a lead left hook, and he knocked him down for an 8-count. He spun him around.
“But that kid understood that Riley was thinking on the move as well, so then the chess match started to play out. “
It was all over in a close fourth round, with Riley having his hand lifted for his first championship title. Darren said they thanked the other team afterwards, keeping in mind they also had to make a last-minute entry to make the match happen.
“I was excited,” Riley said. He said the title win and the experience were equally valuable.
On to the state team
The match immediately caught the attention of the Boxing League Australia, who have flagged Riley as a fighter for their NSW Team.
“I think it’s good,” Riley said. “Good opportunities.”
Riley will rematch Jayden to defend his title later this year. Darren said it’s been an admirable journey for the determined young fighter.
“When he first come in, his words were to me, ‘My dream is to be a champion. I want to be somebody.’ That was his words. And I said, ‘Well, let’s make that happen,’ and he goes, “How?’”
Darren said that road would be grinding in the gym every day, sacrificing time away from his friends, and staying focussed.
“It started as a dream, and then when he stepped up and realised what t was going to be, then that dream became a goal, and then he started winning. So, it’s gone from a dream, to a goal, to a contender, to a champion, in two years,” Darren said.
“And Riley’s done that. He’s never asked for anything else, and he’s done it.”
Top image: Riley Bartlett training in the SAS Gym in Inverell (Michèle Jedlicka)
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