Indigenous boxers find strength with David Pocock

Topic: Indigenous Culture

A boxer punches a bag at the Cuz Boxing camp.

Athletes gather in a Canberra gym for boxing training.

First Nations kids box to express their culture and identity.

Boxers aged 10-18 train with crosses and jabs.

The sound of gloves on pads fills the gym.

Thirteen-year-old Leeton works the bag with determination.

Leeton likes the sound of his right-hand punches.

Leeton traveled from Sydney for the Cuz Boxing camp.

Brothers Jonas and Leeton are proud Dunghutti men and sparring partners.

Jonas works on punch combinations with a coach.

Jonas grew up boxing with his siblings.

Jonas's dad was also into boxing with his brothers.

Jonas's training has been intense for the past couple of years.

Jonas feels fit after training.

It was very cold at 5 degrees.

The camp prepares athletes for elite boxing programs.

The training was challenging, but they pushed through.

The 'Granimals' train on the Murrumbidgee River.

David Pocock led the 'Granimals' workout.

Leeton didn't mind the cold at 5 degrees.

Cuz Boxing founder Joe Hedger aims to build mental strength.

The camp started with public speaking, not boxing.

Ngunnawal Elder Auntie Violet Sheridan mentored the group.

Cuz Boxing founder Joe Hedger's family has a strong boxing connection.

Joe wants to see the kids feel confident and grow in self-belief.

Boxing is about identity and culture.

Joe's father Alan Hedger was a professional boxer.

There's a long history of Indigenous boxing.

Joe wants the athletes to connect with their culture and community.

Posters of famous fights and First Nations professionals hang in the gym.

Joe's son Miles Hedger continues the family's boxing tradition.

Miles is a competitive fighter and mentors younger athletes.

Miles represents the ACT in boxing.

Many Indigenous kids feel disconnected from their culture and community.

The noise dies down as the session moves to the ring for agility drills.

The kids compete in a one-on-one agility drill.

The kids watch and rotate in and out of the ring.

Maleek and Latoya work on an agility drill.

Maleek faces off against his sister Latoya in the ring.

Latoya taps Maleek on the knee, sending him out of the ring.

Maleek says the camp was hard work, but he learned a lot.

Maleek prefers boxing over football.

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