14-year-old Dawn Deutschmann has fallen in love with a sport most teenagers do not anticipate participating in.
Dawn was drawn into the sport of boxing by her father, Phillip du Randt, who is head coach and chairperson of the Witpoortjie Boxing Club. Having heard her dad speaking so passionately about the sport all her life she eventually put on her boxing gloves in 2013 and joined the club.
Within six months Dawn had challenged two red-graded boxers and one silver-graded one.
The Monument High School pupil usually trains every Tuesday and Thursday. Recently, however she started training on Saturdays as well as she is part of the Gauteng team that will be participating in the South African Boys and Girls National Championships in the Free State on 7 to 12 October.
Her objective is to become a pro boxer in the next five years.
The Krugersdorp resident says one important lesson she picked up at the club is discipline, hence she never finds herself in stupid brawls with her peers.
“It is club rules to suspend any member who is found fighting outside the boxing ring, “ says Du Randt.
Witpoortjie Boxing Club recently was graced with the presence of two boxing champs – Hekker Budler and Johny Muler –who kick-started their boxing careers at the Witpoortjie club.
“I picked up a few things from the two fighters. They inspired us to be disciplined, train hard, listen to our coaches and be victorious,” said Dawn.
Dawn welcomes any teenager who would like to challenge her in the boxing ring; she reminds them, however that she has never lost a fight.
