2017 was a breakout year for South West Rocks teen Levi Langham, who’s now looking to defend a string of combat sports titles and build on his ring craft.
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The Year 9 St Paul’s College product last year gained a karate black belt, won three martial arts world championships – and turned his fists of fury to boxing where he picked up a Northern Beaches belt and an Australian Golden Gloves trophy. It was quite the ride for the now 14-year-old.
But that’s all history and the youngster – after a brief break surfing in Papua New Guinea with his dad Jason – is back in training at Kempsey PCYC under the watchful gaze of Adam ‘Rocky’ Fathers.
“For someone who is just starting out in the sport (boxing), he has great potential,” Rocky told the Argus.
Levi only slipped on the gloves for the first time last year, though he’s been practising karate since he was eight years of age.
“I’d like to keep going with both sports, although I want to focus on my boxing because it’s the new thing,” Levi said.
Watch Levi training with coach Rocky:
Asked to self-assess where he’s at in the sweet science, Levi didn’t pull any punches.
“My strength is using my dominance and just working an opponent around the ring. But I need to work on my body shots and fluency to throw uppercuts,” he said.
The jump from mixed martial arts (Kempsey and South West Rocks Zenryoku) to boxing was a natural conclusion when Levi realised hand strikes rather than foot were trademarks.
A big fan of MMA icon Connor McGregor, Levi has a good ‘ground game’ on the mat – “and my best submission move is putting them in an arm bar”.
Dad Jason said his son had enjoyed a near endless list of sports over the years, “and we decided to have a big cull”, leaving boxing and martial arts as focal points.
Asked about the attraction of combat sports, Levi told the Argus it was simply a solid fit with his personality.
“I enjoy the challenge. I am sort of a rough kid and I just love being rough with everyone,” he said.
Jason and his partner Siobhan, who run a Mid North Coast tree services firm and a gym at The Rocks, note there is a family connection with boxing.
Jason’s uncle runs a boxing gym at Burleigh Heads while a cousin, Ryan Langham, fought at the Olympics.
“When it comes to Levi and what he’s achieved, we just couldn’t be prouder,” Jason said.
Levi – whose weight has ‘ballooned’ to 58kg over the festive season – is clear on his goals for 2018.
“I will be looking to defend my title in Golden Gloves and to make it into ISKA (International Sports Karate Association World Cup) again,” he said.
On the boxing front, a busy program of 15 to 20 bouts is possible for 2018, including State titles.
A southpaw with great hand speed and reach, Levi caught the eye and his opponent’s face with a lightning straight left at Sydney on the way to the Northern Beaches title in his final match of 2017.
The final word rests with coach Rocky: “The potential is certainly there, he’s just got to keep working and learning”.
