Overcoming adversity is a common narrative for aspiring boxers, but few title hopefuls have the motivation of Stephanie Mfongwot.
Now 22 years old, she arrived in Australia after fleeing violence in her African homeland of Cameroon.
And she is determined to repay the country that has given her what she sees as a unique opportunity.
Inside the boxing ring, there are no punches pulled between siblings Steph and Jonas Mfongwot.
But when the gloves are off, their bond is a force.
26-year-old Jonas Mfongwot shelved his own promising boxing dream to work two jobs and fund his sister's career.
His sister says she could not be more grateful.
"He's everything to me. If they said you can compare a human being with God, I can compare my brother with God, because what he's been doing for me is really amazing."
Session by session, bout by bout, he says, he is being repaid.
"There's no other word I can actually express the joy that I have for her. I'm very, very proud of her."
The Mfongwots arrived in Australia in 2009, fleeing spates of violence in their West African homeland of Cameroon.
The violence, generated by ethnic unrest, had hit in the previous two years.
And Steph Mfongwot saw too much.
"Seeing people dying, so that wasn't really safe for me. And scary."
Australia provided safe haven.
And, critically, she says, Australia provided specialist treatment for partial deafness diagnosed at birth.
"You can even see the way I'm talking sometimes, I need to open my mouth to say some word. And back in Cameroon, they couldn't do anything."
The condition is improving, and Steph Mfongwot says she is determined to repay her adopted country.
"So what Australia has done for me, I want to give it back in a different way. I just want to do something that some people haven't done, like someone who's fighting with a hearing aid."
She is already the reigning Australian amateur champion in the 69 kilogram division and has her sights set on an Olympic, then professional, career.
Trainer Steve Kerr says he believes she can do it.
"I've been in the game a long time, and I haven't seen anyone move on their feet like her -- men or women."
But he says it is Steph Mfongwot's determination which will get her there.
The 22-year travels almost two hours by train, tram and bus to be trained by Kerr.
She says she now regards him as family.
"The relationship I have with him is like daughter and father. I'm not calling him my coach anymore. I'm calling him Father."
Steve Kerr says the feeling is mutual.
"She just lights up the gym with her smile, and everyone loves her. And to get those sort of things like Steph said, you know, it means a lot to me."
And as far as within the ring, Steph Mfongwot says she will stop at nothing to realise her dream
"I want to do this, do something better, to encourage people that have a similar problem like me, so they can know that it doesn't matter the situation you are in, you can still do something. As long as you love it, you believe you can do it, you can do it."
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