When it comes to boxing in the Hunter region there are few trainers as experienced as Neville Short.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
For the past two decades, he has been guiding up-and-coming pugilists from the Hunter and further afield and is showing no signs of slowing down yet.
More recently, over the past nine months, Neville has been training a talented crop of fighters at the Mindaribba boxing gym in Metford.
And it seems to be a working formula with Neville achieving considerable success since moving to the gym.
“With our boys over the last nine months, we’ve seen some great results,” he said.
“I took two to the novice Australian titles – Craig Donnelly picked up a gold medal and Des Bower picked up a silver in the super heavyweight division.”
Another of Neville’s star pupils is prodigious 17-year-old Newcastle-based fighter Jake Collins-Doherty who is proving to be one to watch.
“He’s had seven fights for six wins so far,” Neville explained.
“He has won two Northern NSW titles, the 71kg State Title and he just took out the Hunter Valley 71 kg title on Saturday in what was a superb display of boxing.”
Neville added that Jake’s Hunter Valley title held special significance for the trainer.
“It was a little bit sentimental there on Saturday night,” he said.
“Jake won the Hunter Valley title and back in 1971 I won the Hunter Valley Golden Gloves, so it was a little bit special.”
In another case of coming full circle Neville said that he worked with fellow trainer Matthew Butler who was once under the tutelage of Neville.
Neville said that the stable at Mindaribba includes indigenous and non-indigenous fighters from Maitland, Newcastle, and Kurri with more dropping in from interstate to pick up some pointers.’
“I’ve got boxers who come down to train from as far away as Coonabarabran, Taree, Armidale and Guyra and I put that down to experience,” he said.
“I just love training fighters. I know what I’m doing and I’m the most experienced trainer around here and in Newcastle.”
That excitement is palpable when listening to Neville speak about his fighters.
“In my gym alone the actual talent is phenomenal – we’ve got so many strong young kids coming through,” he said.
Neville added he was currently preparing Jake for fight in Richmond next Saturday before heading off for the Australian titles in Hobart.
“I’m actually taking three to Hobart – Jake, who is intermediate welterweight; Jackson O’Doherty, he’s a junior at 67 kilo; and we’re also taking 11-year-old Will Butler,” he said.