Now, the Yass local is a WBF Australian Masters champion.

On Saturday, June 8, he took on Paul Winston in a cagey clash at the Caloundra RSL, and emerged victorious after five gruelling rounds of action.

The key to his victory, Spider said, was the new fighting style he brought to the encounter.

"I had kind of predicted that they'd prepare for the guy they fought two years ago, and I didn't fight that style," he said.

"He said to me afterwards, 'Mate, you didn't stick to the game plan.'

"They were waiting for me to rush in and they were going to step to the outside and land a counter left hand."

Instead of being his usual, aggressive self, Spider played the waiting game and forced Winston to come to him.

In the Masters divisions, tactics are not only built around technical strengths and weaknesses, but the integrity of the fighters' bodies as well.

This played into Spider's hands, as Winston has long had issues with his knees which impact his mobility.

"We're both old blokes, we've both got bung knees, but I think his knees are a little bit worse than mine," Spider said.

"Because we're a bit older, it's a little bit more technical ... I know I don't hit hard because my hands are trashed, so I go in there and expect to go the distance. Whereas he's probably not as mobile but free to throw his hands as much as he likes."

While the win was gratifying, Spider said that at the end of the day, it doesn't change who he is or the way he will prepare for his fights.

"I was asked [how it feels to have won] this morning," he said.

"I said I feel no different to what I did a week ago. I trained hard, he trained hard, we both went out and had a crack. I'm still going to have to train hard for the next one."

There is no exact date for when 'the next one' will be, but Spider is planning a busy period in the next few months.

"I'm thinking about going to Melbourne for the Fitlyfe Cup [in September] and then the Australian Masters in Adelaide," he said.

With his recent form in mind, Spider's opponents beware.

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