Lucas performed well in the preliminary rounds of the state championships on November 24, making it through to the final held last Sunday.

The fight was set to take place between Lucas and fellow middleweight, Ned Kane.

But due to Kane failing to show, Lucas took out the final on a technicality. 

Regardless of the result, both fighters were eligible for the next qualifying tournament in February next year, but Lucas was happy to receive another title to his name.

“I felt heaps of relief on Sunday. It was good to win it as I put a bit more focus on it this year,” he said.

“But the champs are just a stepping stone for me. At the moment I am 

looking towards the Commonwealth Games. Everything is about the next step and progressing towards them.”

Lucas was happy with his performances over at the state championships, which saw 12 men fight it out for glory in the middleweight division.

“My first fight was a bit scrappy against an awkward opponent but my second was really convincing and I was very happy with the way I fought,” the 24-year-old said.

Despite feeling the nerves early in his first fight, Lucas said when he settled he felt confident with the way he was boxing.

Lucas lives in Bomaderry and makes the trip up to Shell Cove six days a week to train with Centre of Excellence coach, Nudge Mieli.

Lucas has been training with ‘Nudge’ for six years now and says that he is an “unbelievable” coach.

“We take our training pretty seriously… we do around 12 to 15 sessions a week which include a combination of sparring, strength and conditioning, circuits and a whole variety of other exercises,” said Lucas.

It has been a big year for Lucas, who was selected twice in Australian teams as well as touring Europe with the Elite Australian Team following his impressive performance with the Centre of Excellence Boxing.

“I believe I came back from my trip to Europe a 30 or 40 per cent better boxer,” Lucas said.

“But when I got back from the tour, I broke my hand which was a big setback and is why I put extra pressure on myself in my first tournament back last weekend.”

Lucas said the pinnacle for him is getting a medal at the Olympic Games, but his three main goals are to make the Commonwealth Games, world championships and the Olympics. 

“To me these events are more prestigious than the appeal to turn professional as you have to beat the best guys out there to qualify,” he said.

Lucas has had this week off before getting straight back into training for the next qualifying tournament.

“I’m confident that with the right preparation that I can make it through to compete in Glasgow,” he said.

Lucas thanked his coaches Nudge Mieli and Don Abnett and his fiancée Emma Herbert for their ongoing support.