Canberra boxer Bianca Elmir is hungrier than ever to qualify for this year's world championships with a long-term goal of competing at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games.
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After missing out on Australia's Commonwealth Games team, Elmir will take the first step towards gaining retribution when she takes to the ring to represent the ACT against Victoria as part of the Winnunga boxing fight night at The Hangar in Fyshwick on Saturday night.
Elmir scored a 2-1 victory in her opening-round bout at the national championships in Perth last month, but then suffered a 3-0 defeat to Victoria's Kristy Harris in the 51-kilogram division semi-finals.
It was Elmir's first national titles since 2012 when she won the Australian championship before getting handed a 12-month suspension for testing positive to a banned substance to prevent swelling in her ankles.
Elmir admitted she didn't have an ideal preparation and paid the price for getting down to the required weight limit.
"I had all the ability to beat her, but I was absolutely exhausted and my stamina ran out,'' Elmir said.
"It's disappointing to know I lost because of that and not my boxing skills. I was alright accepting I wasn't prepared and my weight wasn't right, but once it gets closer to the actual tournament [Commonwealth Games] and I have to watch it, I'll be heartbroken.''
Elmir will compete in a catch-weight bout where she is allowed to weigh in between 57kg and 60kg.
The world championships will be held in November in South Korea, with the qualifying tournament in September.
Elmir also hopes to make a statement when she steps in the ring against Australian 60kg champion Shelley Watts at the Burns Club on June 6.
That will feature the Australian Commonwealth Games boxing team against Scotland. The two countries squared off for the Sting Cup at the AIS Combat Centre on Friday night.
The Winnunga boxing fight night starts at 6pm.
