Son of a riding gun boxes clever to make Glasgow final
Ian Chadband |
Two of Australia’s brightest young boxing guns have taken inspiration from their sporting heroes as they earned the chance to fight for gold at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
First, talented teenager Jacob Cassar boxed clever in his welterweight semi-final, mastering a tough sporting world in champion style – just like his cheerleading dad, former group one-winning jockey Eddie Cassar, once did.
Then his pal, rising 21-year-old Brisbane star Jye Dixon, earned a memorable comeback triumph over tough Ghanaian southpaw Amadu Mohammed to battle into the 55kg bantamweight gold medal match following a message of support from housemate, pro star Liam Wilson.
Proud dad Eddie was in the crowd at the SEC Centre, cheering on his talented 19-year-old son Cassar as he outclassed Lesotho’s Pooana Khoahli to win a unanimous points decision in their 65kg clash.
Eddie still rides work at Flemington after his stellar career but prefers helping with Jacob’s fitness training, admitting recently his gifted lad’s bid for Games gold “gives me goosebumps”.
Now Jacob, who won every round on all five judges’ cards, including one 10-8 verdict in the last as he became completely dominant with his jab-and-move slickness, has a tough final against Russian-born Englishman Patris Mughalzai on Sunday (AEST).
“I sparred with him about two weeks ago. He’s a very talented boy, and it’s going to be a very tough fight, but I can’t wait. It’s what I dreamt of,” said Cassar.
“I knew I had trained so hard, my dad’s doing my fitness, my coach is doing my boxing and I knew that there’s no stone unturned so I believed I could be here and fight for that gold.
“The game plan worked well today. Just stick the jab, box smart and dig to the body.”
Cassar grew too big to be a jockey like Eddie.
“Dad sort of kept me away from it. Obviously it was a hard sport and he knew for me just to take my own path,” he said.
“I don’t have to follow on from him. I was low in confidence and I got pushed into the gym and I’m glad I did – look where I am now.”
But surely boxing was just as tough? “Oh it’s pretty hard, pretty hard. I’ve heard some stories. Both hard in their own ways.”
Brisbane’s slow-starting Dixon struggled to get inside the long right lead of the gangling, awkward Ghanaian, but gradually started to penetrate Mohammed’s defences with clean shots and dominated the last two rounds to land a 4-1 split verdict.
“I felt like I was under control. I knew that it could have went either way at the end, so I was just praying. Thank God I got it done,” smiled Dixon. “I can’t believe it. To be actually be in the final, it’s surreal as f***.
“Back in 2018, I watched my housemate Liam Wilson reach the quarter-finals, and I’ve been trying to follow in his footsteps. He messaged me just before, wishing me luck, telling me to stick to the game plan and show my heart. I just can’t believe I actually got it done.
“As a world title challenger, he’s a massive role model for me in the gym.”
Dixon doesn’t yet know if he’ll turn pro after the Games or continue down the amateur track to the LA Olympics.
There was less joy for the other Aussies, who ended up having to settle for bronze after comprehensive defeats by English opponents in their ‘Ashes’ medal bouts.
Eve Bryson was game and strong, but Sacha Hickey schooled her in their 65kg welterweight clash, while light heavyweight Paul Trainor, cheered by his vast Irish-Australian fan club, was well-beaten 5-0 by Dimeji Shittu in the 80kg class.
Lekeisha Pergoliti, the high-quality 24-year-old West Australian who won world silver in Liverpool last year, still found another English standout Chantelle Reid far too good, losing a unanimous decision in their 70kg light-heavyweight class.
This AAP article was made possible by support from Commonwealth Games Australia.
AAP