Jack Barton (right) poses for a photo with opponent Alan Sheret and coach Scott Wallace after the 16-year-old Weipa boxer secured a unanimous decision to win the Sunstate Amateur Boxing League Junior 75-78 kilogram title in Townsville on 1 September. Photo: Supplied.
Not even the flu and a week of missed training could topple Jack Barton as the 16-year-old Weipa boxer fought his way to a spot on the national stage with a unanimous decision in the ring in Townsville on 1 September.
Barton donned the gloves to claim the Sunstate Amateur Boxing League Junior 75-78 kilogram crown with an impressive win in his first fight of the weekend before getting the nod from the judges in all three rounds in his title bout against Townsville fighter Alan Sheret.
Cape York Boxing Weipa coach Scott Wallace said it had been a horrible preparation for the young boxer but praised Barton’s tenacity, talent and focus against the odds.
“Jack did a week of training in Brisbane before the state titles in Townsville and got the flu on the way home,” he said.
“All that next week I tried to train him and the poor bugger was so sick, so I just kept sending him home; you just can’t fight with the flu, so we made the plan to go down and do his best and just see what happened.”
Barton will now represent Queensland at the 2024 Australian Amateur Boxing League National Titles in Gosford from 28-30 November, but not before celebrating his 17th birthday and, as a result, moving up to the 17-19 year division.
He told Cape York Weekly he was now back in full training for his national campaign, adding the sport had provided him with discipline and an outlook that was delivering major victories inside and outside the ring.
“Boxing has given me the mental toughness to be able to perform under pressure and while fatigued,” he said.
“It’s also given me strength and a high level of fitness, and the confidence to be motivated in training and in life – it shows in my schoolwork.
“You only get back what you put in and this is true in boxing.”
Back in Weipa and reflecting on the fight, Mr Wallace described Barton’s effort as a “Cinderella story” that further cemented the township’s growing reputation as a breeding ground for young boxing talent.
“It was like a Cinderella story – it did not go to plan at all, but it ended up being a good plan all the same,” he laughed.
“We just went in there and decided Jack just needed to fight, and that’s what he did.
“It was pretty awesome being a coach getting a win like that.”
