Fighting Chance, A (ATOM Study Guide)

At age forty-two, former Bosnian boxing champion Nermin Sabanovic is making a comeback. Back in Bosnia, Nermin was a dual Olympian and nine times national champion. He won more than 350 fights. Then the Bosnian war broke out and suddenly his celebrated career was cut short. Nermin and his family fled to Australia.

Now that he has won an Australian title and an Oriental Pacific Belt, Nermin believes that he can beat the odds to go on to represent Australia and claim a world title. Nermin reckons he has what it takes.

His family is not so sure. After all, Nermin has been out of the ring for ten years and his ageing body may not be up to it. Nermin's wife Indira refuses to watch his fights, and his eldest daughter Tea believes her father's age makes boxing far too risky. Both of them constantly worry about injury or worse. They want Nermin to focus on his work as a project officer with the Aboriginal Sobriety Group.

Since his return to the ring and recent victories, Nermin has become an icon of the fiercely patriotic Bosnian community in Australia. Nermin's brother-in-law, Helari Lukavic, is constantly by his side, spurring him on.

Nermin is already a hero, a survivor, a pillar of strength and a well-respected leader in the Bosnian community in Adelaide. What does he have to prove?