According to 9 News, heavyweight prospect Craig Vitale (6-0, 3 KOs) will spend at least seven years behind bars over a 2011 armed hold-up of a Melbourne bottle shop he committed with his brother.

The two brothers entered the Kingsville store pointing a double barrel shotgun at a female attendant before firing at the cash register and fleeing with money and alcohol.

The pair went unprosecuted for the robbery for five years before CCTV footage of the incident was circulated in 2016 that led to their capture.

Justice Michael Croucher said the crime was difficult to understand, considering Vitale’s stance as a boxer.

“It’s hard to comprehend why he would choose to present a gun to rob a woman half his weight and twice his age of a few measly dollars and a couple of slabs of Jim Beam,” he said.

While Vitale’s brother admitted his role in the robbery and implicated Craig, the boxer maintained his innocence – which the jury disagreed with.

The robbery was committed in 2011, and Vitale turned pro in 2013. He picked up a few knockouts that went viral and even caught the attention of Hall of Famer Mike Tyson.

For whatever reason he stopped fighting in 2014. It was in that same year that Tyson offered to mentor the then 25 year old prospect.

The boxer also caught the attention of Unites States promoter Greg Cohen, who signed him to a deal. Cohen is the co-promoter of current heavyweight prospect Jarrell Miller.