Bio
My name is Marissa Williamson, I am a proud Ngarrindjeri woman. I was born and raised in Wadawurrung/Wathaurung country. I have a close connection and identify strongly with the Wurundjeri mob. I started boxing as a form of fitness for my aspiring AFLW career. I honestly thought that playing in the AFLW was the one thing that I was 100% going to do. However, after growing a love for the sport I decided to give up my dream of playing in the AFLW after an injury to pursue a career in boxing.
I started off boxing With Vincent Marino at Wyndham PCYC. It was a gym for at-risk youth. I was with him for a year and had approximately 19 fights with him. He took me to my first Victorian title and my National title all in the same year. The gym was a non-for-profit, so unfortunately the gym had to close down due to lack of funding. When I was training for the nationals in 2019 I caught a train for 3 hours to receive sparring. That’s where I met James Roesler. He was impressed with my effort and willingness to train. He drove me home that night and offered me a place at his gym. I had one fight with James and went on a Thailand training camp with him. when covid hit because I was living at the boxing gym due to exiting the foster care system I was able to continue my training. After Lockdown he noticed how much I had improved. We had a really good relationship and he taught me a lot. However, he thought it was best that I moved to a new gym to continue progressing. Due to covid I’ve only been with my new coach Kel Bryant actually training for about 2 months out of Collingwood Boxing, I know with him he will take me all the way. We are currently looking for fights and are ready to get back into the ring.
I haven’t had the most positive upbringing. I was in and out of foster care for a large portion of my life. Things were extremely rough and violence was second nature. Boxing is a sport that finds people, boxing really did save me. I exited the foster care system just before my 18th birthday, my only downfall is my lack of support. I have faith that the universe will pay me back. So far I am grateful that I can continue to box thanks to my sponsors, the Aboriginal community, the Australian sporting Hall of Fame and you. I cannot wait to see you mob repping my apparel, let’s take it all the way. My goal currently is to remain on the Victorian beaches team, make it on the national team. have some fights this year in readiness for the 2022 Birmingham commonwealth games and the 2024 paris olympic games.
- Current 64kg Victorian Boxing Champion
- Current 64kg Australian Boxing Champion
- Current on the National Futures Team designed time to train and support athletes for the 2022 Commonwealth Games and 2024 Olympic Games
- 2019 NAIDOC Sportsperson of the Year
- Culture Is Life Ambassador
- Sponsored by My Physio Evolution
- Tier 1 Australian Sporting Hall Of Fame Scholarship Holder
- The Minority Co Ambassador
- Arete Ambassador
- 2018 AFL U16 Sportsperson Of The Year
Fight Schedule
18th March 2021
Against current Elite 69kg Vic Champ Caity Beckett
15th – 18th April 2021
South Australia club Championships (three fights in three days).