In the heart of Central Australia, where the red dirt runs deep and community means everything, one woman is quietly changing the game.

Stephanie Stone, known across Mparntwe / Alice Springs as "the boxing lady", has been named a finalist in the sports category of the NT News Woman of the Year Awards, a recognition that speaks not just to her achievements in the ring, but to the impact she's having well beyond it.

For Ms Stone, the recognition is deeply personal.

"I'm very humbled and honoured to be recognised a little black girl growing up living in Batchelor, I would have never imagined that I would be recognised in this way," she says.

"I wouldn't be the woman I am today if it wasn't for my mother Sharna Stone. We didn't have much growing up and we struggled like most families living from fortnight to fortnight, but mum always made sure we knew that we were loved by her and she did the best she could for all her children."

That grounding has shaped everything she brings into her work today.

Her connection to boxing runs deep. It started long before Arrernte Community Boxing Academy, back in Batchelor, watching her brothers fight while she found her own way into the sport.

"Growing up my mother and her partner ran a boxing club in Batchelor. Back in those days boxing was not for girls, so my friends and I would sell raffle tickets just to get a seat on the bus to attend tournaments in Darwin and Katherine," she says.

"I have always had the love for boxing."

Years later, alongside her partner Jason Lord, that love turned into something bigger.

"Jason made a comeback into the boxing scene as a professional boxer before we started Arrernte Community Boxing Academy, which we have been running since 2019."

Today, it is a true family space, with her daughter already stepping into the ring.

"My daughter Lela, Triple L, is 12 years old and has had four fights. Her first fight was at nine."

But inside the gym, it is not just about fighters.

"What stands out the most isn't just physical improvement, it's the shift in how people carry themselves," she says.

"Some of the women come in shame, hesitant and second guessing themselves. Over time I see their confidence grow. The hesitation fades and they are willing to push themselves just a little harder."

"With young people, they come in with a lot of energy. Boxing gives that energy structure. Over time we notice better emotional control, more patience and responsibility."

In a place like Alice Springs, that impact runs deeper than sport.

"Arrernte Boxing gives our members a safe place to go and train without judgement. Everyone is welcoming and part of the Arrernte Boxing family," she says.

"Our coaches aren't just trainers, they are mentors, role models and sometimes mediators. Respect, accountability and looking out for each other becomes part of the culture."

"For some, that sense of belonging is just as important as the physical activity."

Looking ahead, her vision is clear.

"The vision isn't just to develop strong fighters. It is to shape grounded, capable people who know who they are and where they are going," she says.

"They leave the gym clearer in their choices, able to handle pressure, set goals and back themselves in whatever path they choose."

Her focus is on what comes next.

"We want to see our young people step up and become the next coaches, mentors and role models, so the academy continues to be a safe place where turning up matters."

And legacy, for Ms Stone, is simple.

"If years from now you can point to adults who say that place, Arrernte Community Boxing Academy, helped shape who they are today, that's legacy," she says.

"The goal isn't recognition, it's sustainability and impact."

In every sense of the word, Stephanie Stone is fighting for more than titles.