By Caden Helmers
Canberra boxer David Toussaint was working up to 10 hours a day and trying to fit training in around it.
By Thursday or Friday he was "pretty stuffed", so he quit his job as an electrician and dedicated himself to boxing.
Canberra boxer David Toussaint is undefeated in nine bouts and takes on Junior Talipeau on Saturday night.Credit: Jay Cronan
While the paycheques aren't quite as nice as they once were Toussaint hasn't looked back, with a fight against his toughest opponent to-date in Junior Talipeau at the Woden Hellenic Club on Saturday night.
"You've got to make these sacrifices and give yourself the best shot at going further in the sport and I want to see how far I can take it," Toussaint said.
"I think it's improved my boxing tenfold. I'm feeling fitter and stronger than ever.
"Before when I was juggling a full-time job it was so hard to be putting everything into every session. But now I've got the time where I can rest in between and do all the little one percenters and stuff to make me a better fighter."
Undefeated in nine bouts, Toussaint was slated to fight Nader Hamdan before unforeseen circumstances saw the latter pull out.
Talipeau, a former contestant on reality television boxing show The Contender, stepped up and the rest is history.
Toussaint's last fight was over in 30 seconds, and his resume also boasts wins over Jordan Tai and Steve Moxon but he admits Talipeau will be a step up in competition.
Toussaint believes adding a name like Talipeau to his list of wins would mean more than any regional title.
It means the No.4 middleweight in Australia will have to use every ounce of skill he has obtained since first lacing up the gloves aged eight at his dad's youth class at a PCYC in Lismore.
"It was a family thing – my old man was always into it as a young fella and my pop was a boxer," Toussaint said.
"[Dad] was my first trainer and he's still in my corner today and helps me with my boxing. It's great having that family tie there and bring it all together.
"We used to train together when I was a kid but the better I got and the less he was getting into it we sort of stopped doing it.
"We used to spar all the time and still do pads and plenty of work. I've never seen my pop train but I've definitely seen my old man get into it a few times."
Toussaint will also call on the experience of sparring with Daniel Geale, one of Australia's greatest boxers and a former world champion, last May.
"He's been there and done that on the world scene, probably the best middleweight Australian boxing has seen in the last couple of decades so it was great to get in there and actually do some rounds with a legend like that," Toussaint said.
Toussaint is refusing to look any further than Saturday night – he knows Talipeau is coming to town looking to take everything away.
CAPITAL FIGHT SHOW 10
Saturday: Kickboxing & Professional Boxing, Main Event – David Toussaint v Junior Talipeau at Hellenic Club Woden, 7pm.