Amateur boxer Spider lasted all three rounds and won one against former professional boxer Kevin Selby at the Sydney Fight League 10 at Dee Why RSL on September 23.
Spider described it as “the toughest fight I’ve ever had”.
“It was a gruelling bout as Kevin is a walk-up fighter and is forever in your face grinding away,” Spider said.
“I managed to work my angles in the first two rounds and do what was necessary to not get caught with any shots or pinned on the ropes.
“The third round was much harder for me and Kevin caught me with some good shots in that round.”
Selby, who held the NSW lightweight title as a professional fought some of the biggest names in the sport in Australia, including Justin Rowesell (trained by Johnny Lewis).
Spider said Selby was a “far more experienced fighter than me in terms of bouts in the ring”.
“I was absolutely exhausted at the end of it and was still very tired days later.
“But he complimented me on being a very cagey fighter, knowing what to do and when to do it. For me, that was a huge compliment,” he said.
The amateur card also featured some of Australia’s leading international talent, as they prepare for 2018’s Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.
Despite still recovering from the fight, Spider is now back in training at Robbo’s Gym for the Queensland Olden Gloves titles in Caloundra at the end of November.
He said his passion for boxing is still strong, coming out of retirement only in February 2017 after 16 years of retirement.
“It doesn’t matter how injured I am, I stay active every day to keep fit,” Spider said.
He said that “no new pain” was the major factor in prolonging his ability to keep boxing.
