But a champion lightweight? That’s a title Shepparton’s Luke Slater is out to call his own.
On Saturday the lawyer-turned-boxer bobbed and weaved his way to a victory over Mick Bau in a Masters Mayhem event, clinching the lightweight eliminator bout for a shot at the state title in February next year.
Shedding his suit for silk shorts, Slater showed real guts and guile to overpower his Wallan opposite at the Ferntree Gully amphitheatre and in doing so, proved something: he’s just as comfortable practising law as he is the sweet science.
The Goulburn Valley Boxing Academy graduate was radiant following Saturday’s slug-fest, saying his preparedness and engine helped him in victory.
“It was a very good contest, the other fella had a similar amount of experience and it was fairly even,” Slater said.
“I’d like to think I was a bit tidier than Micky and tried to keep the consistency over three rounds.
“He might have won the first round but I paced myself and pushed on in the second and third rounds — it felt good to get the unanimous decision.
May was the most recent time Slater, 42, last threw on the gloves for a competitive fight.
Bouts have been few and far between, so there were few prouder for Slater than coach and GVBA owner Zedda Harrington at the bell.
“I was very pleased Luke was able to bring the gym preparation to the fight night, he controlled the majority of the bout and boxed very well,” Harrington said.
“The club is so happy for Slater, he’s an amazing role model for everyone at our gym and his work ethic is second to none.
“To say this man deserves the reward is an understatement.”
Slater will again don the silks in February for the lightweight championship title shot against Melbourne’s Nam Quach.
Though Slater assumes the underdog tag with Quach the more experienced boxer, Harrington is backing his man in after witnessing him beat Spaniard Ismail Garcia for the masters title back in September, 2018.
“Luke matches it with blokes in their 20s, so it gives confidence leading into this tournament,” he said.
“He’s like fine wine and come February he is going to have to fight the fight of his career to bring the strap back to the Valley.”
Though the high of his win still courses through the veins, Slater’s nose returns to the grindstone as training resumes at GVBA’s hub, the ‘Dog Den’.
Which, as expected, he loves.
“Boxing is a really good sport even at an older age; even if it’s just for keeping fit, I would highly recommend it to anyone who is thinking of having a go,” he said.
Though, with the prospect of a championship belt on the line, Slater admits he may have to approach the silly season slightly differently this year.
“I’m looking forward to the fight but I’ll have to be careful over Christmas — not to have too many beers, that is.”
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