This is my chance to belong to the outback, to the Australian dream of a place beyond where life is tough and a nation was made.

The corner man tells me to keep my fists up and gives me a little pep talk. He smears my face with Vaseline, pulls on my gloves and then I’m in the ring getting the rules from Mr. Brophy who’s also the referee.

There are to be no body blows, we’re to box around the shoulders, upper chest and head.

I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.

There’s no headgear in this fight and I don’t have a mouth guard to protect my expensive white teeth.

Me, I’m here to fight the Cracow Mauler. She’s got short sharp hair and the face and attitude of a woman who has lived only among men.