HARRY Garside is only a teenager but he knows exactly what his goal in life is - he wants to fight for Australia.
The 15-year-old Mooroolbark boxer trains five days a week — he calls it his 'job'.
After some close finishes at past national championships, Garside wants to go one step further so he can one day realise his dream to represent Australia.
"It's the only thing I want to do — represent my country," he said.
"It was my first goal when I started boxing. If I win this event then I get to go overseas."
Garside has been training hard for the national championships in Adelaide, held last week, in which he fell just short of beating Ceasar Tapia from New South Wales, five points to four in the semi finals.
The winner of the event will be in the box seat to be selected for the Australian team to fight in the junior world championships in Ukraine this August. The team will be named in the coming months.
"I've been to the nationals two times before and placed second both times. I haven't been beaten by much, just a couple of points. The oppositions are all top class fighters."
Garside is trained in Lilydale by veteran mentor Brian Levier and works with Victorian state coaches.
Levier said Garside was a rare find: a young boxer fully committed to his craft.
"I turn 70 this year and I tell you, it's very rare you get a kid who trains every day. Harry never misses the day," Levier said.
"No matter how hard I work him, he cops it all sweet. He is a beautiful boxer. He jabs and moves, he has great evasive skills.
"He is one of those blokes. He's starting to get a bit of mongrel in him as well."
Garside is also pushing himself out of the ring. He attends Lilydale High School and works part-time at Kmart showing he knows how to push himself outside the ring as well as in it.