Canberra boxer Steve Lovett reckons his new book finally gives him closure on a life well lived. Photo: Steven Lloyd Photography.
Steve Lovett, 39, has done it tough most of his life.
Originally from Cowra in the Central West region of NSW, he has spent much of his life as a boxer. Starting at age 13 and finishing at 36, he’s put on the gloves, taken on all comers wherever in the world the fight demands, just trying to earn a living in one of the hardest of sports.
He battled with many demons along the way, always thinking he was never good enough – for his friends, family, boxing fans, but most importantly, himself.
But as it sometimes pans out, the things that worry you most can end up being your saving grace.
“I’ve always loved boxing,” Steve said. “But in the beginning, it was all about professional wrestling.
“I remember when I was about 13 and my grandfather was at our place when I was watching the wrestling. He had a go at me, saying this is all fake, if you want to see real fighting, watch boxing.
“He brought over a bunch of boxing tapes for me to watch and that was it. I watched these guys slugging it out and for me, a seed was planted, and all I wanted to do was box.”
Steve said it changed him almost from day one. During his school days at Cowra, he described himself as a shy young bloke. But once he began to box, he started to learn who he really was.
“Boxing separated me from everyone else,” he said. “From being quite timid to developing confidence.”
Never bothered about being hurt in the ring, Steve retained one fear – “losing and letting people down”.
After moving to Canberra when he finished school, Steve devoted everything to his sport, eventually making it to the top of the Australian amateur title ranks. But although his confidence was on the rise because of his success in the ring, he was still his own worst enemy.
Steve Lovett the family man – with wife Alexandra. They have a son Leonardo and are expecting twins. Photo: Supplied.
After briefly moving to Texas in the United States, Steve won 13 out of 15 fights on the trot. But he still wasn’t happy.
He knew his demon was himself. So what does a man, whose professional skills mostly emanate from his gloved fists, do? He decided to write about it. Put pen to paper about his life, his dreams, his mistakes and triumphs in the hope his story might prove cathartic to him – and others.
“It’s also about closure for me,” he said. “I really needed to put it all down on paper.
“I thought I had something to say for 20 years but I was caught up in my own mind for so many years that I got lost. Time away from saying and doing got me writing.”
Canberra boxer Steve Lovett in the ring. Photo: Steven Lloyd Photography.
Steve Lovett’s no-holds-barred story Tough Is Not Enough will be published next month.
It tells of the highs of victory in the ring down to the depths of depression, to finding love and support with his partner Alexandra and young family.
It’s an inspiring yarn – a story Steve reckons has helped him by writing it, as he hopes it will help others by reading it.
“One day I just sat on the lounge and started writing,” he said. “I’d been through a lot with people giving up on me and sometimes I just don’t know how I got into the ring. But I did. I got there.
“I made it.”
Tough Is Not Enough is scheduled for release in September/October through Brolga Publishing.
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