Jabbour honours Crocker legacy

That proved the case last weekend, when 17-year-old Jeremiah Jabbour won Crocker’s Boxing Gym’s first national youth title.

It came almost 20 years to the day – March 26, 1998 – since the passing of its namesake Maurie Crocker, boxer, boxing trainer and whistleblower priest who lifted the lid on child sexual abuse within his own church.

It’s also 20 years to the day since former Australian middleweight champion Vito Gaudiosi vowed to continue his mentor’s legacy, training young fighters to be their best – in and out of the ring.

“It only feels like yesterday since Maurie passed,” Gaudiosi said.

“That day will never fade, it will always be with us. 20 years later, we mourned Maurie’s passing the day after Jerry won his national title.

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“I’ve had state and national champions at senior levels and professional levels but I’ve never had a junior national champion. 

“It’s like Maurie Crocker looking down on us.”

The timing of the milestone is certainly not lost on Jabbour himself, who also picked up the NSW 81kgs title en route to the national crown. 

“I’m very proud, my family’s very proud and I was happy to make Vito proud because he’s put so much effort into me,” Jabbour said.

“It’s like a second home here. I’m here six days a week, he treats me like a son and he treats everyone like that.

“He’s taught us all about Maurie Crocker and the foundation of the gym. He’s explained what it means to him and the community and I’m happy to keep the legacy going.”

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The Cringila product, and son of former pro Taylor Jabbour, said he’ll continue to set lofty goals, including a tilt at an Oceania title.

“I’ve been with Vito for four years and when I first came in he made sure I had a big goal,” Jabbour said.

“He didn’t want to train me if I didn’t set goals like that. Oceania titles are coming up so I’m hoping to get selected for that and after that I’m eyeing the junior Commonwealth Games.

“Eventually I’d like to be a young pro. My father fought pro and he was my first mentor and trainer.

“I trained with him until he decided it was time to go into a gym so it’s definitely in the blood.”

Gaudiosi is confident his charge has the dedication and work ethic to progress to Commonwealth Games and Olympic level if he stays in the amateur ranks. 

“If you win a national title at a young age, he’s just turned 17, you’re definitely going to progress up the amateur ranks,” Gaudiosi said.

“Jerry only had 12 fights before he went to nationals so it’s a big achievement.

“I don’t let too many kids into our boxing program unless they’re going to be committed and he’s very committed to, not only his sport, but to his family and work life.

“He’s got an apprenticeship with Programmed Industrial Maintenance who are very supportive of his training. When you’ve got a kid who’s that disciplined in his life, he’s already on his way.

“I’d like him to stay in the amateur ranks and get to Oceania (level) and then Commonwealth Games and Olympic standard and then maybe into the pro ranks.”