Boxer Jesse Vosseler, who has a prosthetic left foot, spars with a training partner. Source: Supplied
BRISBANE boxer Jess Vosseler was just 16 when he was given the news that would change his life forever.
"I got a lump on my left ankle and I thought it was from all the running I was doing. It slowly got bigger so we eventually got a biopsy … and it came back that it was an osteosarcoma cancerous tumour," Vosseler said.
"They booked me in to do chemo but after two cycles they said it wasn't working how they hoped and they were going to have to amputate. They said it was better your leg than your life and they're the experts so we couldn't really argue.
"It was pretty devastating because I had high aspirations as an amateur boxer. My coach was always saying I was on my way to the Olympics so that was the main thing that devastated me."
More than a decade later, Vosseler is making up for lost time.
Jesse Vosseler: "They said it was better your leg than your life and they're the experts so we couldn't really argue." Source: News Corp Australia
After 19 victories as an amateur, the 27-year-old scored a second-round knockout against Jesse Saavedra in his professional debut in November, with his next light heavyweight bout planned for March.
He has honed his craft with the use of a prosthetic leg and now has his sights set on a state title.
"I got back into boxing again when I was 20 just to get fit. Even though I lost my leg I knew I could still do all the work," Vosseler, who fought for the Australian amateur title three weeks before his pro debut, said.
"I slowly started sparring again and that's where I started getting better and better. I was 24 when I got back in the ring (for a fight) and I never thought I would be able to compete at that level again.
"I know (the leg) is a disadvantage but over the last few years I have adapted. (For fitness) I do a lot of skipping and short sprints with a weighted sled. I use the cross-trainer at the gym and do heaps of long rounds of sparring too.
Jesse Vosseler will aim to have three or four pro fights this year. Source: News Corp Australia
"I haven't got the foot speed to be able to dance like (Anthony) Mundine or (Muhammad) Ali so I have to be more aggressive as a power puncher. I get in close more now because when you're in close it takes away that foot speed disadvantage.
"I'll probably aim to have three or four pro fights this year to try to keep the momentum going and then see at the end of the year if I want to keep going. I can't really predict how far I will go but … my trainer thinks if I can get my body to that level a state title is not out of reach."
Having witnessed first-hand Vosseler's dogged determination, trainer Sean Reynolds said the sky was the limit.
"He's potentially one of the best light heavyweights in the country. He's a class act, whether he's got a disability or not," Reynolds said.
"He can go as far as he wants to go. Definitely Queensland and Australian titles and further on from there but it all comes back to him."
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