What started out as a promising career changed when he had a string of losses and his coach left the area.

He'd had 21 bouts for eight wins.

At the start of 2007 Lucas was selected in a PCYC team to compete in Samoa.

Due to personal reasons he did not make the trip.

Lucas was put in with Joel Brunker, who was an Olympian, and had 10 times his experience.

Although he lost on points, Lucas put in one of his best performances.

He also fought state and national champions.

This string of losses and his coach leaving the area resulted in Lucas believing his future in the sport may have been over.

A phone call to boxing trainer Nudge Mieli to try and organise some sparring with one of Mieli's fighters changed his direction.

For the past eight months Mieli has worked on changing and improving Lucas's style.

Under Mieli's guidance he has had seven fights for seven wins.

Lucas, 19, is now considered a favourite for the NSW 64kg title and has aspirations for making the Australian championships.

His ultimate dream is to represent his country at the 2012 Olympics in London.

He travels one-and-a-half hours by bus and train from the Shoalhaven to Mieli's Forte School of Boxing at Shell Cove three times a week for training.

"Mark is very dedicated and is going really well," Mieli said.

Lucas spars with fellow Forte boxer Chi Ly and also Nathan Wright, who also has a Shoalhaven background and is trained by Chris Davey at Figtree.

Lucas received the fight of the day award from professional champion Shannan Taylor at the Shellharbour Showdown at Lake Illawarra PCYC on September 21.

Lucas and Mieli extend their thanks to Mick Negro from Total Electrical Solutions and Zoran Matich of Universal Cranes for their assistance in purchasing much needed equipment for training and fighting, and making the journey to training much easier.