Callagher never expected to enter the boxing ring when she joined the Maitland City Boxing Gym two years ago.

“I’ve grown into the sport. I didn’t think I would ever fight,” the 18-year-old said this week after returning from Tweed Heads with her second boxing championship belt. 

“I didn’t think I had it in me to get up into the ring and be on show in front of everyone.

“It just happened, it showed me I could do anything really. If you want something bad enough you can do it.

“And it has definitely made me motivated to do things outside the ring that I wouldn’t have dreamed of.

“I don’t really know what attracted me to boxing, it’s just the whole mentality of it. The training all the time, having that commitment. I love being committed to the sport.

“It rules your whole life, I just love it. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done.

“And it keeps me on track with everything else in my life. It keeps me motivated, it keeps me hungry wanting to do more.”

Callagher’s record now stands at three fights for three wins and the Hunter Valley and Tweed Coast 64kg championship titles.

“I’ve only had the three fights the first two were technical knock outs,” she said.

“It was different but pretty cool to be able to say  I had gone the distance and knew I could win that way as well.”

Boxing has also delivered Callagher a relationship with fellow Maitland City Gym boxer Willem Clarke, who also was successful in the ring up north winning the Tweed Coast Middleweight Title.

“We met through boxing,” Clarke, 19, said of their relationship.

“It’s great to have that connection through the sport, but it’s not something we really think about.”

Clarke, who has 18 fights to date, added the Tweed Coast title to the NSW title he won in August.

“I’ve been boxing for two years with Barry McDonald at Maitland City.

“Barry is just a tremendous support to all of the boxers and I know we all appreciate his efforts the amount of hard work and sacrifice he makes for us is amazing.

“I’ve been eating a lot healthier, it’s probably the fittest I’ve been so far during my career.

“Have about three weeks off, I’ve got a lot of fights coming up next year and hopefully a few titles and see where it leads.

“I’ve still got a learning before I turn professional. I’d like at least 50 fights under my belt before I make the move, get a lot more experience.”

Callagher, who completed her HSC this year and has completed her qualification as an assistant nurse, said 2019 promised to be a big year.. 

“Next year is about getting as many fights as I can and being successful in the sport and I’ll go from there,” she said.

“Qualifying for the Olympics and eventually turning professional are goals.