Above and left: Shane Brock, pictured during his most recent bout against Thailand’s Pornchai Sithpajuk at Dandenong Basketball Stadium in February, will fight for the vacant World Boxing Federation Asia Pacific Flyweight Title at the Bentleigh Club on 15 April. By Marc McGowan
CRANBOURNE boxer Shane Brock is preparing to take the next step in his career when he fights Indonesian Romilus Rahayaan for the vacant World Boxing Federation Asia Pacific Flyweight Title at the Bentleigh Club on 15 April.
Brock, 27, has won seven of his nine bouts since turning professional as a 23-year-old, and is unbeaten in the flyweight division.
The fight will be a bit of an unknown for the local champion with little information available on his overseas opponent.
“I’ll pretty much have 10 rounds to work it out. In one of my fights, I did lose because I didn’t know much about my opponent,” Brock said.
“It’s pretty much trial and error, and you’ve got the time to work them out.”
It is the 163-centimetre athlete’s second crack at the boxing game after making a premature retirement following his defeat to Emmett Gazzard in the Australian Bantamweight Title match-up in 2005.
“I lost my Australian title and was out of my weight division, and it was a bit hard losing,” Brock said.
“Then I had a family, had two kids, and it got harder and harder, but since then I’ve moved in with my ex and that’s helped keep me on the straight and narrow.
“I never wanted to be a person sitting at the pub thinking I could have done this and I could have done that.”
With his comeback three fights in – all of which have been victories – and little left for him to achieve in this country, Brock is hoping to claim the Asia Pacific Title before eventually challenging for a world title.
“It is definitely a dream to fight overseas for my country,” he said. “It’s kind of baby steps. First, the Asia Pacific title, then the Intercontinental and I’ll be world-rated after that.”
The widely respected Steve Kerr has trained Brock at Moorabbin Boxing Gym for his entire professional career and the former has a high opinion of his charge.
“He’s good with both hands and in his last two fights he has stopped his opponent with body shots,” Kerr said.
“He is a complete fighter and has all the punches, but his strength is his body shots – they are dynamite.”
Brock’s stellar reputation in boxing circles does not mean he is able to live off his winnings, and he is forced to supplement his sports income by working as a pastry cook.
“It is very hard, especially because I’m a pastry cook and have to get up very early. Over the years, I’ve learned to adjust to the early mornings and try to fit runs in around work,” he said.
After an impressive performance at his last outing at Dandenong Basketball Stadium in February, Brock is desperate to get back into the ring.
“I’m pretty confident, but you try not to be over-confident because everyone has two arms and two legs,” he said.
“It is the kind of sport that you can’t be over-confident. I am confident in myself and my ability, so hopefully it all pays off.”
