Belle Spicer | Leading by Example
An Early Statement
With 19 fights under her belt and 15 wins to her name, 15-year-old Belle Spicer is certainly one to look out for. Her journey into the sport began with parental influence, but Belle’s dedication and passion have quickly set her apart, positioning her for a bright future in boxing.
She’s already achieved impressive success in the ring — a 2023 Under 15's 50kg Australian Gold Medal and National Champion title, followed by a 2024 Junior 50kg Australian Silver Medal. Belle also won the 2023 Queensland Novice Title, multiple gold medals at the Australian Club Championships and Victorian State Titles, and was named the 2023 National Under 15's Female Fighter of the Tournament.
Embracing a New Passion
Combat sports wasn’t an immediate interest for Belle — her dad had hoped she and her younger sister would learn self-defence through some sport, with his own background in Karate shaping that desire. When the family moved to Dromana, Belle’s dad found a local gym offering kids' boxing classes. Belle decided to give it a go, and after just one year of training, she was transferred to Big Ben’s Boxing, where she now trains. The transition was nerve-wracking at first, as everyone at the gym seemed much more experienced. However, after her first fight, Belle fell in love with the sport, knowing she wanted to pursue it for the long haul.
Her commitment to the sport has already taken her beyond the local scene, including a standout performance at the World Boxing German International Open for Juniors, where she won a gold medal and gained vital international experience. She also traveled to Fiji for a female tournament, where she stopped both of her opponents to take gold.
Eyes Set on Olympic Glory
Belle remains the youngest member of the Victorian Futures Program — a testament to her commitment, potential and ambition within the sport of boxing. So it's no surprise that her sights are firmly set on representing Australia in the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, with the ultimate goal of winning a world championship medal.
In the meantime, she’s primarily preparing for tournaments including the Australian Club Championships and Victorian State Titles in May, an international tournament in Fiji in June, and winning gold at the Under 19's National Titles in Darwin in September.
The Influences of Inspirations
When it comes to her boxing heroes, Belle looks up to Vasyl Lomachenko for his incredible ring IQ and technical brilliance. She also draws inspiration from Australia's Caitlin Parker, an Olympic medalist whose influence has gone beyond her own success. Caitlin's mentorship and commitment to empowering younger athletes like Belle make her a role model in the sport.
Just like her heroes, Belle’s ambition extends beyond the desire to win titles; she hopes to be remembered for the hard work she’s put in and the inspiration she’s provided to others. She wants to show people that with discipline and determination, anything is possible, both in the ring and in life.
The Challenges and Rewards of Boxing
Boxing requires more than just physical skill; it takes an immense amount of dedication. For Belle, this is what makes the sport so gratifying. It’s not just about the physical training, but the life lessons and experiences it brings. Of course there are some challenges to the sport too. Like most fighters, Belle isn't a fan of the weight cutting process before fights, but to her it's a small price to pay for the rewards the sport of boxing has to offer.
Finding Balance
Outside of boxing, Belle has a deep interest in sports science and the mechanics of the human body in athletic performance. Currently taking Year 11 Physical Education as a Year 10 student at Toorak College, she finds that the knowledge she’s gaining helps inform both her training and her understanding of how to perform at her best.
Managing both her academic responsibilities and a rigorous training schedule isn’t easy, especially around exam time when boxing also ramps up. But Belle has learned to use the discipline she’s honed in boxing to balance her schoolwork with her athletic pursuits. The structure of training has taught her valuable time management skills that apply to all areas of her life. With a balanced structure to her life, there's no doubt Belle will keep pushing forward in pursuit of her dreams, and inevitably fulfil them.
