Stanton recently realised the first step of an Olympic dream, holding up the super lightweight Australian Amateur Champion belt just three years after taking up boxing full time. But it’s his other passion that might prove to be the biggest fight of his career.

Born in Coledale, Stanton had very few people to look up to in his early years, and that is what he hopes to change after taking up a traineeship as a case worker at the Local Aboriginal Land Council’s Opportunity Hub program – the very same program he used to pick himself up off the social canvas and fight his way into a career.

“I grew up in Coledale and had a pretty tough life – we were really poor and dad spent a fair bit of time in prison before he turned his life around and became a role model for me,” Stanton said.

“I was a skinny nerdy kid – an easy target for the older kids to beat up so I got into a lot of trouble and a fair few fights.

“My Dad, Dennis, suggested that I go and do some boxing training to look after myself and it all started from there.” 

Training out of the PCYC with coach Paul Saunders, Stanton soon found out that “the fighter in me” wanted to do more with his life.

“When I am in the ring there is no time to think about anything else, it is kind of like tunnel vision, but it all comes back to my training,” Stanton said.

“When the adrenaline stops, win or lose, I am proud that I have achieved something that not many other people would do. Now I want to be a role model for people in our community, and use my story to show them that we can achieve things – they can get their HSC, or a good job, or an Australian championship, or anything, if they want to work for it.” 

After finishing at Peel High in 2015, Stanton signed up as a volunteer at the Opportunity Hub before being offered a full-time traineeship this year, where he will finish with a Diploma of Community Services.

“I would never have had this opportunity, and the chance to help others find a career if it wasn’t for the Opportunity Hub,” Stanton said.