By David Nagel
When Pakenham boxer Harley Stanway first stepped into the ring it’s fair to say his technique was not going to take him to the pinnacle of his chosen sport.
But how things have now changed; with the 16-year-old now widely recognised as one of the most exciting young talents in Australian amateur boxing.
Combat sports have been lodged in Stanway’s blood since the age of five, doing three years of Karate before the lure of the ‘sweet science’ took a hold.
Now fighting out of Fighters Xpress in Dandenong, trained by Peter Hatton, Stanway was initiated into the sport at the Urban Boxer Gym in Pakenham.
“When I started at Urban Boxer, for a whole year straight I did not block a single punch…the way I blocked it was with my face,” Stanway said with a smirk.
“I’m not actually sure why I did that, it was boom, boom, boom, and I took it, and I was used to it, then I really knew I loved boxing.
“The coaches were saying put your gloves up Harley, stop hitting them with your face.
“It was one hell of a year but I got through it.
“Finally, when I got hit hard, that was when I learned to put my hands up.”
With the most basic of boxing skills now sorted, Stanway improved his craft over seven years at Pakenham before making the move to Hatton’s Gym in Dandenong.
It’s a move that has thoroughly challenged his undoubted dedication to the sport.
“I’ve had 12 fights now, including Australian title fights, and I’m totally dedicated to being the best boxer I can be,” Stanway said, with a steely look in his eyes.
“I travelled 10 times a week, five in the morning and five at night, from Pakenham to Dandenong, riding my bike to and from the train stations.
“I would wake up at 4am, catch the 5.27 train from Pakenham to Dandenong, but I’ve had to cut it down since my title fight.
“I was exhausted during the fight and that training might’ve been the downfall to it all.
“Now I’m doing two in the morning and five times at night.
“I’ve been working on lots of things like stamina, strength, everything boxing.
“The last fight I had was at the Melbourne Pavilion, the biggest event I ever went to and now I’ve a got a taste for it all.
“I’m working on my fitness and it’s getting greater and greater.”
Stanway has already fought twice for an Australian title, losing both on points, but is still very much at the development stage of his career.
His exploits in the ring already have him highly regarded, earning him a spot in the Australian team that recently fought in Papua New Guinea (PNG) in the Kokoda Cup.
The tournament gave the recently developed Australian National Amateur Boxing Association (ANABA) the opportunity to showcase its finest talents.
“ANABA is a newly formed association and we’re now able to take any athlete that we sit fit to the other side of the world to compete in the biggest tournaments,” said secretary and co-founder of ANABA Geoff Chadwick.
“We had a meeting in Dubai last year and Papua New Guinea approached me and asked if we would like to compete in an Anzac Day tournament in respect of Kokoda.
“Harley is one of our best kids, so we gained sponsorship and took him to the Kokoda Cup along with other boxers from New South Wales and Victoria.
“We took on some of Papua New Guinea’s best boxers and we came out on top.
“It’s a tournament that’s been recognised across the world and we’re starting to grow from that.
“We opened (ANABA) in June/July last year and we’re now part of the IBA (International Boxing Association), which is the world’s largest boxing association.”
Chadwick, who had multiple roles in PNG as team manager and coach, said Stanway had the right qualities to go a long way in the sport.
“Harley has had quite a bit of success here in Victoria and he also just lost an Australian title; he’s always fit and raring to go and he was an obvious choice to go to Papua New Guinea,” Chadwick said.
“At his weight, he’s one of the best pound-for-pound kids we’ve got here in Australia.
“He’s hungry and he’s very good.
‘He’s got a very strong tank; he never stops working, and for his size he hits extremely hard and he’s extremely dedicated and hungry.
“He’s a good listener, a good learner, and just a really good kid who has worked hard for everything he’s got.
“He’s showing our commitment to us, so we’re going to put time and effort into him.”
Stanway said Chadwick had been a big supporter during his journey.
“He’s been watching me for quite a while during my Australian title fights and watching my state training and that’s why he chose to pick me,” Stanway said.
“State training is for boxers who are planning on going up to professionals, or going out of Australia. “There were about seven or eight of us who went and I was pretty pleased to go out of Australia and fight for my country.”
Stanway said the gravity of the occasion really did hit home.
“It was a bit shocking because I kept thinking to myself…I’m fighting for Australia,” he said.
“Not just for my coach, not just for me and my dad (Rob), but I’m fighting for everyone.
“Even for those people who fought over there for our country and for Papua New Guinea, it was a pleasure to be a part of it.”
Stanway clearly had the better of his opponent in PNG and enjoyed the experience immensely.
“Crowd wise, it was pretty hectic, the area wasn’t big but it had two storeys and had a great atmosphere, the crowd was wonderful,” he said.
“The guy I fought was alright but I had to take it down just a notch so the crowd loved me for that.
“Within a few seconds I knew I had him straight away, I knew I had to outbox him.
“Fighting wise, I got in every now and then but I’m happy with my performance.”
The points win in PNG was a further stepping stone for Stanway, who has some of the sports’ biggest-ever stars as his idols.
“I’m still focusing on the boxing style instead of fighting, but my main idol is Mike Tyson, one hundred percent all the way,” he said.
“I’ve been watching him since I was a little kid and Evander Holyfield, I love him too.
“I watch Muhammad Ali every now and then, just to get that boxing style; but Mike Tyson is the boxer I want to be for sure.”
Stanway has the attitude to succeed in the sport, with an inbuilt hunger now being built on by a passion to totally improve his craft.
“I’ve got a mixture; I’ve got technique and power and I make sure I’m not throwing my punches for no reason…I plan to hurt and I plan to do damage,” he said.
“I’m working on boxing and technique, everything like that.
“Footwork, not as much; over the years at Pakenham I did a lot of footwork and that’s where I’ve gotten all that from.
“Doing ladders, doing all types of footwork…and that’s where my credit goes for that.
“But I needed to change things up and the move to Dandenong has been great.
“The sparring levels are great for beginners, advanced and so forth, and we’ve got new up and comers, some-pros there, it’s a really good mixture of boxers.
“It’s a wonderful place to go to and full of respect; no one will try to beat you up, no one underestimates anyone, we’re all like family in a way.”
Stanway has some big plans for the remainder of 2025, with possible overseas and interstate training and boxing trips to further increase his trajectory.
There’s also a Mega Event planned for Pakenham later this year, featuring some of Australia’s best amateur boxers.
Stanway’s main desire is to pull on the green and gold on the biggest stage in world sport.
“Over the next four years I’m going to try to get into the Olympics, and then I’ll turn pro,” he said, without a hint of trepidation.
“I want people in Pakenham to support me; I’m going to make sure I get myself and my sponsors recognised.”
