Meet boxing champion, Anna Christadoulou

When Anna Christodoulou’s father invited her to come try boxing at nine, she reluctantly agreed.

“It was just boxercise sort of stuff, but I really liked it,” Anna says.

Since joining her current gym (Smithy’s TGW) Anna believes she’s stepped up completely.

“I’m a different boxer compared to what I was a year ago,” she says.

Competing in the Golden Gloves — Australia’s most prestigious amateur boxing tournament — in Brisbane last year, Anna came away with a gold medal and title Australian Golden Gloves Champion for her division.

She found herself in the ring against a boxer from South Australia.

“It wasn’t easy, but I’ve versed (sic) harder girls,” Anna says.

Confident with her fight, Anna still felt like crying when the winner was announced.

“I knew I won, there was no knock out, it went the whole three rounds; [but] when I win, I feel like crying, I just feel really happy.”

Anna loves the atmosphere of boxing and has her goals planned for this new year.

“I really hope to get into the Australian team or get an Australian title — it’s really hard for girls to be recognised cause it’s a male-dominated sport.”

Being the only female in her team, she trains daily with male boxers.

Anna finds the boys inspiring, motivating her to want to win.

“I see them winning and I think, now I have to win,” Anna says.

Although, that doesn’t mean Anna won’t get in the ring with them. “I spar the boys frequently.

“I try to keep up with them, but they can’t really go their full heaviest — there is a big weight difference between me and most of the boys,” she says.

Toowoomba has recognised boxers and Anna really admires them.

“I always look up to the pros here; they might not be world-wide known, but pros like Stevie Spark, Gaven (Hornery), Jack Asis and Herman (Ene-purcel) I see how much they train, what you have to put in to get where they are.

“The best tip they’ve given me is ‘if you train hard, you can fight easy’.”