DEEP in the Indonesian jungle of Banyuwangi sits the old-school training camp where Willie Kickett, the Aboriginal boxer touted as Australia’s next legitimate world champion, has been secretly training.
No television, cold showers, basic diet and little contact with the outside world. These are the staples of Camp Kickett, located a one-hour speed boat ride from Bali on the east coast of the Indonesian mainland Java. This the primitive setting in which Kickett has been fine-tuning his magical pair of hands.
It’s a far cry from the Perth pub where Kickett’s trainer Craig Christian first discovered him, a raw teenager all glazed eyes and fast fists who would fight anyone who dared to throw out a challenge. These days the only challenges Kickett confronts are focus and discipline, making sure he walks a straight line in preparation for his fight in the Philippines on Saturday.
The 6am starts keep him honest. A run through the jungle, then to the pads, abdominal work, skipping; a thorough two-hour examination in stifling humidity.
“It’s been awesome, really tough but the perfect kind of preparation, I hope,” Kickett said.
“It’s not like home over here, in the jungle it’s quiet and good for training.
“Then in the city it’s really busy.”
Kickett and the man he serves as a sparring partner for, WBA featherweight world champion Chris John, lived the simple life in basic jungle huts from just after Christmas until last Monday.
Two-hour sessions in the morning were followed by another two hours from 4pm. Five, sometimes six days a week.
The pair then switched camps to Jakarta, where they spent four days last week sparring in preparation for John’s title defence last night.
Kickett’s next showdown comes against Romeo Jakosalem in Cebu City in the Philippines next Saturday. Christian is confident.
“It’s been great for Willie to get away from his comfort zone and really experience a totally different culture,” Christian said.
“He’s been working super hard, he’s now very fit and I’m expecting him to perform strong next weekend.
“We flew to Bali just after Christmas and then caught a boat over from there to Banyuwangi, trained there for three weeks and now we’re in Jakarta.
“We’re working towards big things for Willie, we want to try and get him a world title shot in the next couple of years.”
Johnny Lewis has labelled Kickett “the bright light of Australian boxing”, a sublimely talented fighter who can switch stance, throw knockout punches, stand and trade or evade with his rhythmical feet.
When a boxing eye like Lewis says you’ve got it, you take the tip. This won’t be the last time you read about Willie Kickett.
