Fitzpatrick, 13, cannot compete in NSW until July 2018, when he turns 14, but has overcome this by fighting interstate claiming the Australian 38kg schoolboy title last month.

“It’s been a huge year for Zack, we’ve travelled all over the place to Victoria, Queensland numerous times and now he is a two-time national champion in his first year of fighting,” his trainer Ben Crampton said.

The youngster has six fights for six wins and has fought most of the fighters in his division.

“He trains seven days a week, he trains extremely hard. I train him like I train my professional fighters,” he said.

Cessnock Goannas first grade player Brendan Hlad is his strength and conditioning coach  

“Training with Brendan has made a hell of a difference in his fitness. I’ve watched a few of the gruelling sessions they do and Zacky kills it,” Crampton said.

“I’ve never seen a kid so dedicated in all my life.

“He just wants to succeed. He lives and breathes boxing.

“He has had a bit of a growth spurt this year and with the strength and conditioning he has gained a little bit of muscle mass as well. 

“He is a champion kid with a massive future.

”I’ve trained Zack for five years now, since he was eight years old, and never once has he complained. He gives 100 per cent all the time.

“Even sometimes I’ve been blown away by some of the session he completes.

“He is the perfect pupil. There’s no attitude or ego. He is the best I’ve seen at that age.”

Meanwhile, another of Crampton’s fighters 24-year-old Blake Minto, from Toronto, is fighting for the World Boxing Foundation super lightweight world title on March 23 at Wests City Newcastle,.

“It’s been a massive year for Blake as well,” Crampton said. “He won the WBF Australasian welterweight title early in the year and made a defence of that.

“He is also the current World Boxing Foundation international super lightweight champion.

“He had three very hard fights to get these belts and now he has been rewarded for it,  they are going to give him a shot at the vacant world title.”