Tara Murray
Boxer Jacob Cassar has been awarded a tier two scholarship as part of the 2025 Sport Australia Hall of Fame scholarship and mentoring program.
The program assists young elite athletes on their journey to excellence and success on the international stage by awarding $150,000 in funding to 32 athletes each year
There’s 10 athletes who have received tier 2 scholarships.
Cassar said he saw applications online and thought it would be worth filling it out to see what happened.
Cassar said it’s an honour to receive one of the scholarships.
“To be selected as a successful SAHOF Scholarship recipient is an incredible privilege for which I am very grateful,” he said.
“Reading through the honour roll of previous recipients who have reached their goals and represented Australia at the highest level inspires me, and I hope to replicate the same accomplishments as those athletes whom I aspire to be like.”
Cassar, who has been boxing since 2018, said the scholarship will make it easier to travel to events.
“Travel is so expensive,” he said. “I’m off to the Youth Worlds later this year, so it will be a massive help.”
Cassar will also receive a mentor through the program, but he’s not sure who that will be yet.
He said having someone with a lot of experience to learn from would be a great experience.
The Brimbank resident has an undefeated record of 37 bouts and has won numerous titles, including Australian and Victorian championships, and a prestigious belt from representing Australia in the USA.
His inclusion in the Boxing Victoria futures squad in 2019 and subsequent selection for national training and competition teams.
Cassar also has a Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS) Scholarship awarded to him in 2024 and his classification as an emerging athlete by Combat Aus and Boxing Australia highlight his promise and dedication to the sport.
Cassar said the 2024 World Boxing Youth World Championships is the big event he’s been training for.
“It is really exciting to represent your country and hopefully I will bring back gold.
“This is the main one. It’s very exciting and I think I will do well. I’ve been training hard and hopefully the hard work pays off.”
Cassar said at the moment he is training three days a day, every day.
The youth championships are the start of what Cassar is hoping will be a big few years.
His goal is to join the Boxing Australia team and compete in events like the 2026 Commonwealth Games and the 2028 Olympics.
