Noongar boxer Alex Winwood has the fire in his belly and self belief to be a world champion at record pace.
The 25-year-old has worn the knocks of disappointment in recent months, though that won't stop him from fighting for ultimate achievement. At last year's Commonwealth games in Birmingham, the boxing fraternity were left lost for words after his highly-controversial quarter-final against Zambia's Patrick Chinyemba.
Winwood was waved-off by the referee, given just a two-count after being floored with a right-hand shot despite quickly getting back to his feet.
Channel 7 commentator Jon Harker labelled the incident "impossible to believe" as many others expressed shock at the decision and support for the young boxer.
Arguably more impossible is the way Winwood has bounced back seven months on.
While the decision ended his amateur career, Winwood, already a WA state champion, finds himself within arms-reach of an WBC Light Flyweight International title before his bout with Indonesian world no. 13 Tibo Monabesa in Perth on Friday.
It's just his second professional fight after beating Mario Bunda on debut in November.
Even the journey since has presented its bumps.
Winwood's shot at the title was initially scheduled for December 17 before being cancelled at the last minute. Now with the chance to fight in front of a home WA crowd he's put all that frustration behind him.
"It throws a bit of a spanner in the works but at the end of the day, it puts that gravel in your gut to keep on giving it your best," he told National Indigenous Times.
"It's always a pleasure to fight back in Perth. As an amateur, at a certain stage I had to stop fighting in Perth pretty much because there wasn't enough competition.
"As a pro but to be able to bring opponents in and fight in front in front of my hometown, it's something special."
His long-term potential could be limitless. With one look Winwood's trainer Angelo Hyder went as far to liken him to modern boxing greats Roy Jones Jr. and Floyd Maywhether.
Comparisons of that calibre put the short term goal of winning a world title within six fights, one shy of fellow-Aussie Jeff Fenech's record to the top of the tree in seven.
"He's (Winwood) going great. Two things happen when you have such experiences in life, you put your tail between your legs and you give it or you make it a fire that burns with desire," Hyder said.
"You use it as a force to drive you every day. And that's what he's done."
Winwood enters the ring with WBC Light Flyweight International Champion Monabesa at Perth's Metro City on Friday.
