Hunter Valley boxer Troy O'Meley has learned a lot over the past three months as he pushed himself to, and eventually beyond, what he thought were his limits in preparation for his Australian title fight against Adrian Rodriguez.
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"It's been awesome, it's been a long camp but very rewarding," O'Meley said during a break in his arduous training program. "I've really found myself in this camp.
"I've pushed my body to the limit a lot. You experience things that people don't get to experience when you push your body so hard.
"It's a huge step, it is my dreams all coming together after 12 years of work. I started at 15 and I'm 27 now and I'm getting shots I've worked so hard for and will not let anyone take them away from me."
It's a huge step, my dreams all coming together after 12 years of work . . . I'm getting shots I've worked so hard for and will not let anyone take them from me
- Troy O'Meley
O'Meley, who has won all 10 of his professional fights, takes on Australian super welterweight champion Adrian Rodriguez on Saturday night in what promoters are hoping will be a packed East Cessnock Bowling Club firmly behind their local hero.
The Cessnock fighter said it is the most prepared he has been for a fight. His preparation started with a month-long training camp in Thailand before Christmas and full training since.
"I've been sparring three or four times a week, sometimes two or three times a day I will have training sessions with my dad and the team," he said of his training regime under coach and father Tony.
"Dad has set the program. He throws things in to challenge me so that I have to dig deep mentally.
"Long runs, repeat sprint sessions, strength work and lots of sparring. I've worked on everything really hard.
"It has helped me with being confident in myself and becoming the boxer I can be.
"I will be a world champion one day and this is all part of the journey."
O'Meley said every now and then there were glimpses of the different journey he had taken in life since heading to Thailand as a 16-year-old to train with the Thai national boxing team.
"I'm fairly introverted and don't mix a great deal. Most of the time you don't realise that the journey you are on is so different from most people," he said.
"I surprise a lot of people with how hard I can train, how hard I can push myself in the quest for the title.
"People often say to me that what I'm doing is crazy, but it's the price you have to pay.
"I love boxing. For me it has helped me so much.
"I just want to keep working at what I'm doing and preparing myself to be the best in the world."
O'Meley works part time at East Cessnock Bowling Club, which is also his major sponsor.
"I've been really fortunate as they give me a couple of weeks off for the final preparation for the fight, " he said.
"The support has been tremendous.
"Everything is ready to go, I just can't wait to get in the ring."
Tickets are $40 for general admission and $60 for reserved seating.
There are still three ringside VIP tables of 10 available at $2000 which includes three-course meal and drinks. Call Tony O'Meley on 0411 982 830 to book.
