George Webb-Rose

Young Achiever: Talented boxer George Webb-Rose ready to rumble

George Webb-Rose has established himself as one of Australia’s best amateur fighters.

At just 17 years of age, the Wodonga product finished 2018 as the top-ranked amateur middleweight fighter, after claiming the national title at a tournament in Tasmania late last year.

He also collected Queensland and NSW state titles along the way.

Webb-Rose admitted he didn’t expect to progress so far in the sport given he initially took up boxing as fitness for football.

“I had my first fight in November 2016 and started training about a year before that,” he said.

“I just had a fight, had another one and another one after that,” Webb-Rose said.

“Once I had my first fight I knew I loved it.

“I look back all the time and see how far I’ve come.

“I’ve improved everything, not just with boxing, but outside of boxing as well, it’s helped me as a person.

“I’m not peer-pressured into anything.

“I recommend it to anyone, it’s the best sport.”

Webb-Rose admitted the fight for the national title in Tasmania was a clear standout of the past year.

“We’d been trying to hook it up all year with this guy from Tassie who was the same age and same weight division, but we couldn’t get it done,” he said.

“We ended up fighting in the elimination for the Australian title.

“It was probably one of the toughest fights I’ve had.”

Corey Pyle has been on the journey with Webb-Rose – training him since the start of his career.

“He always pushed hard in the gym, but something just clicked,” Pyle said.

“I could see it in his eyes that I knew there was something there, he found the love for the sport and never stopped growing.

“We knew he had the potential to get there, we just had to push him to get to that stage.”

Pyle’s goal for Webb-Rose is to see him defend all titles and continue to step up against more experienced fighters – with the ultimate aim to turn professional.

“There’s a bit more travel this year, I think we’ll have to go to Tassie and maybe even Queensland,” he said.

“The big goal is to go overseas at the end of this year or maybe next year, but that’s a long way ahead before he turns professional.

“He wants to do well in the pros, so we’re not going to take him pro until he’s ready.”

Webb-Rose fights for the regional North East title in Wodonga on March 9, before defending his NSW state title in Sydney on March 30.

He’s one of nine nominees for the Norske Skog Young Achiever of the Year award, with the winner announced at Albury’s Commercial Club on Friday, March 15.