How does a kid from Thames end up in a New York gym trading rounds for a world title camp, with Gennady Triple G Golovkin training in the same building? That is the David Aloua story, and it is a good one.

David joins Jason at the Shedquarters for Episode 5. He was a New Zealand cruiserweight who represented Aotearoa at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, won multiple national amateur titles, took a bronze at the Commonwealth Amateur Boxing Championships, and turned pro to claim regional belts on his way into the world top 15.

Before all of that, Dave was a multi-code athlete. He made the Dilworth First XV in Year 11 and became a New Zealand wrestling champion while still at school. He talks about those early years, finding boxing, and how he managed an apprenticeship on the tools alongside his climb through the amateur ranks. Not many world-ranked fighters have been on a worksite at seven in the morning.

The camp stories are worth the listen on their own. David spent time training around Anthony Mundine and Sonny Bill Williams, got flown to New York as a sparring partner for a world title camp, and found himself sharing gym space with Triple G. He talks about what that world was actually like. Not the glamour version. The grind, the gym wars, the lessons you only learn from being in the room with fighters at that level.

He also talks about City Boxing, where he was in the mix with Hemi Ahio, Junior Fa, and Carlos Ulberg. All names that went on to fight at the top level. There is a good thread through the whole conversation about what heavy sparring teaches you and how it shapes the way you think about everything else.

Dave has stepped away from the professional game now and is back working as a tradie. He is straightforward about that chapter and what it taught him about identity and life after sport. Good conversation.

Listen to the full episode on all major platforms

[YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtkJcV2Y0Is)

[Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/72KnBcFkM1r3xm2YyVujJR)

[Apple Podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shedlifenz-podcast/id1857464528)

[iHeart Radio](https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-shedlife-nz-308999038/)