April 13, 2016 · 0 Comments
Boxer Jake Daoust has won the 2016 Canadian Amateur Middleweight Championship in the U19 division with a decisive tournament win over the weekend of April 2-3, in Quebec City.
Daoust previously won the Ontario championship to qualify to go on to the national level.
He fights out of the Big Tyme Fitness and Boxing gym in Orangeville.
The tournament had five boxers representing their province in a single elimination tournament – one loss and you’re out.
Now 17, Daoust had his first amateur bout when he was ten years old although he said he has been working out in the gym since he was just six years old, inspired by his older brother Alex who was already working out in the gym.
Daoust now has 42 amateur bouts behind.
“I’m pretty much in the gym all year round. I don’t really take many breaks. I’m always running, always in the gym training, sparring, always hitting the bag,” He said of his training regimen. “I’m in the gym five or six days a week.”
His training routine picks up when there is an important bout coming up.
“I’ll kick into harder training about two months before a big tournament like the provincial or nationals.”
Relying on the advice of his coach Bryon Mackie, Daoust makes good decisions on when he should step into the ring.
“Amateur boxing is a lot of experience. You want to get all the experience you can.”
In the national tournament a boxer is typically up against an opponent he knows very little about in terms of skill set. It’s a random selection once the tournament gets underway.
“You have to be ready for the worst. You train as hard as you can and make sure you’re in top shape and just be ready. I don’t’ ever go in there under-rating my guy. I always think it’s going to be a tough fight. It felt good to win all might fights by a stoppage.” Daoust said of how to prepare prior to getting into the ring.
His first fight in the tournament was stopped in the third round on a TKO.
His next two fights were both stopped in the first round to give him the championship in the gold medal round.
The winning fight was stopped after a couple of body shots put his opponent on the ropes and unable to continue.
The championship makes him a member of the national team.
Daoust said his long term goal is to compete in the Olympic games.
“Then who knows from there. Boxing opens a lot of doors. I love the sport. However far it can take me, I’ll let it take me. I’ll box my way there.”
Written by Brian Lockhart