Geanne Dicks was crowned champion of the 60kg category at the new South African National Boxing Organisation (Sanabo) Youth and Junior Open Boxing Championships 2017.
The championships recently took place in Dundee, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).
Her championship journey was bumpy at first, but victorious at the end.
The Hoërskool Die Anker learner blames the humidity for her not feeling well during her first fight in the semi-finals on October 5.
“I didn’t feel well at all and couldn’t eat; therefore, my first two rounds against my Eastern Cape opponent were not successful,” she says.
Although she won the first two rounds with 3-2 judges decision points, her victory only came in the third round.
Within 30 seconds of the third round, this 15-year-old gave her single best knockout punch and won the fight.
“The knockout was a surprise, but I knew I had to do something because I was exhausted by then,” says Geanne.
The idea of her next fight being in the finals, was still in the distance as she was still on cloud nine after her first knockout experience.
“Although I was excited, I felt bad for hitting my opponent that hard,” she says.
Light, yet intense exercises followed in the next two days in preparation for her final fight.
On October 7 she entered the ring “excited yet nervous.”
She was well prepared and fit enough, but nothing could prepare her more than when she entered the ring in the finals against her Free State opponent.
Geanne says she was fighting her own battle, not only in the ring, but also on an emotional level.
The first two minutes were nerve-wracking, but she regained her confidence in the second round.
“I knew the fight was mine in the second round because God led me to throw the right punches at the right time,” she says.
During the third round Geanne decided to throw hooks and uppercut body punches.
Although I threw quite a few combined punches, it was difficult to aim for my opponent’s stomach because she was much shorter than I am.
When the judges’ decision was called with a 5-0 score, all I saw was my father’s smile and grandmother Jeanette Dyzel’s tears.
“It was the most exciting championship experience ever,” says Geanne.
Jeanette says it was a proud moment for all of them.
“Our hard work to train and coach Geanne has paid off,” she says.
Geanne was also the South African Boys and Girls Schools Boxing champion and best female boxer at the championships in 2016.
