Facing Tasmania’s Erika Creely — a former Australian champion with 30 bouts to her name — Fry was up against the odds in just her 11th fight.
But that did not stop the Goulburn Valley Boxing Club product from outscoring Creely 29-28 on the judges’ card after an extremely competitive fight.
‘‘Experience is a great thing to have, but at the end of the day a fight is a fight,’’ GV Boxing Club coach Zedda Harrington said.
‘‘I always tell my guys, no-one has a digit above their head (labelling how many fights they’ve had), I inform them, it’s not the stronger one, not the faster one, nor the toughest one, but the smarter one (who wins). This was a prime example.’’
The triumph gives Fry plenty of confidence and momentum heading into next month’s Australian championships, where she will compete in the 60kg lightweight division for the Victorian Elite State Team.
Fry will be the youngest member of the team at 18 years of age, but that will not stop her from holding her own alongside Commonwealth Games representatives, medallists and current Australian champions.
‘‘It’s an amazing achievement, making the elite state team,’’ Harrington said.
‘‘Ellie is my first boxer from the club to make the side, so I’m very proud.
‘‘To be honest, it’s going to be tough not being in her corner, we make a great team. I have full faith in the Boxing Vic team and that she will work well with them.
‘‘I want her to really enjoy it and soak it all up. A lot of sacrifice has gone into it and she has come a long way in a short time.’’
Ellie thanked her personal sponsors the Kyabram Club, Infinity Health Club and Brady Electrical.
‘‘I couldn’t do it without them,’’ she said.
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