By ADEM SARICAOGLU
BOXERS are known for their brash confidence and sharp tongues.
Last month, Tarneit fighter Dawn Berryman was only 16 years old when she beat 29-year-old Emily Jans 22-17 for a state title.
A lack of young female talent in her weight division (60-64kg) has forced the youngster to step up her game quickly, and so far the results have been particularly impressive.
When asked about her attraction to boxing, Berryman’s response was initially perplexing on the ear.
“The skills and the fitness, that’s probably what I like most about it,” Berryman started.
But then she added “and beating up old women, I find that fun”.
Put that second comment into context and you soon realise it typifies the competitive spirit that could one day take her to the top.
Now 17, Berryman’s confidence in her boxing has reached a new peak.
Neither age, nor lack of experience has held Berryman back since she gave up the netball bib for boxing gloves three years ago.
Berryman said her recent triumph over a former national champion 13 years her senior was her best result yet.
“So far, that’s pretty huge for me, being 16 and fighting the 2011 Australian champ,” Berryman said.
“I was really nervous, especially with her being so much older than me and having more experience -that was probably intimidating.
“But once I got in there, I felt good.”
Berryman was a keen netballer and came across boxing somewhat accidently when her father Shane introduced her to boxing coach Dave Preston.
“He took me in just to do fitness for my netball, but he taught me a lot and then I started getting into it,” Berryman said of Preston’s influence on her initiation into boxing.
“I had my first fight with him in Tasmania when I was 14 for the Tasmanian Championship, so that was pretty much how I started and how I got into it.
“From there, I’ve just been training a lot harder to get where I am now.”
Berryman’s amazingly quick rise through the ranks has already booked her a place at next month’s national titles in Adelaide.
But while the ‘city of churches’ has its charm, Berryman has bigger cities, specifically Glasgow, in her sights.
Berryman will be 18 when Glasgow hosts the 2014 Commonwealth Games, and she hopes to be there wearing green and gold.
“That’s what I’m aiming to do,” Berryman said of her Commonwealth Games ambition.
“As long as I keep training hard enough, that’s where I’d like to go.”
