JESS Messina now feels like she belongs on the world stage.
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The result at the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships wasn’t quite what she had hoped for, but Messina put it down to an unfortunate bout of bad luck rather than bad management.
The Port Macquarie product bowed out of the competition in the quarter-final stage when beaten by Turkey’s Sema Caliskan in a contentious split points’ decision.
“I wanted that gold medal and really believed I could get it,” Messina said.
“Each fight I believed I was in control and had done as best as I could. I thought I could have gotten to the medal stages, but got done on points in the quarters.
“Not reaching the medal stages is a little bit disappointing but I was really proud with how I performed. I thought I fought really well.”
Her first taste of world championship boxing came in 2016 in Kazakhstan and the result two years later in India means she is now in the top eight boxers in the world.
Experience at major events had played a major role in her continued development.
“The last worlds were my first big tournament away so it was really nerve-wracking and watching all these other girls I was thinking they were so good,” Messina said.
“Fighting them made me think back to Astana when I thought they were superhuman but now getting in (the ring) with them I believe I’m just as good if not better than these girls.
“It was an eye-opener that I am now one of the best in the world now.”
Messina won’t have to dwell on her quarter-final result for too long with the next world championship event scheduled for 2019.
Fighting them made me think back to Astana when I thought they were superhuman but now getting in (the ring) with them I believe I’m just as good if not better than these girls.
- Jess Messina
It will be a slight change in the schedule compared to previous years which will enable athletes to be at their best for the world titles.
“It’s been on in the Olympics years, but they want to change it so us girls can peak at the world titles and we’re not going to the olympics and going down then trying to get back up again for the worlds,” Messina said.
“We’ve got it next year now and then it will be two years from there.”
The multiple NSW state champion believes she only requires slight changes to her style to progress further in 2019.
“It’s anyone’s game on the day when you’re up there with the best in the world,” she said.
“To me, I think I need to do more work on little things like adjusting my style and a few more technical things.
“Not getting the decision in the quarter-final definitely makes me want to work and get it there next time around for sure.”
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