Shannon O'Connell (born 20 January 1983) is an Australian professional boxer who has held the WBF female featherweight World title, the WIBA super-bantamweight World title and the Commonwealth female bantamweight title.
Early life
O'Connell was born on 20 January 1983 in Adelaide, South Australia. At the age of 2 her father Kevin O'Connell passed away in a speedway accident. As a result of the loss of her father, her mother Lynda became deeply troubled and much of Shannon's early life was marred by abuse and drug-use. She took up boxing at the age of 20 to rehabilitate a back injury she suffered playing netball. Her first coach was Terry Fox, an Adelaide boxer from the 1970s that competed in speedway competitions against her father.[1]
Amateur career
O'Connell had a successful amateur career winning a national championship in her fifth fight. After a tournament in Tonga she met Brisbane trainer Chris McCullen, notably a trainer of former world champion Anthony Mundine and was persuaded to relocate to Queensland to continue her career.[1]
Professional career
O'Connell made her professional debut on 15 Dec 2011 winning by Technical knockout in round 3. In her second fight she fought for the Queensland state female bantamweight title and lost. After winning her next six fights (including the Queensland state female featherweight title) O'Connell fought South Korean Choi Hyun-mi for the WBA world female featherweight title, losing by unanimous decision to the hometown fighter in Seoul, South Korea.[2]
On 29 June 2013 O'Connell travelled to Secunda South Africa, to face Gabisile Tshabalala for the vacant WBF female featherweight title. O'Connell won the fight via seventh round knockout winning her first world championship in just her 10th fight before stepping up in weight to take on the bigger and more experienced Diana Prazak for the WBC female super featherweight title. O'Connell lost the fight by 5th round TKO.[2]
On 6 July 2014, O'Connell won the vacant WIBA world super bantamweight title over Brownyn Wilie by unanimous decision.[2]
On 16 June 2017, O'Connell travelled to Argentina to take on experienced veteran Marcela Acuña for the IBF world female super bantamweight title. She lost by unanimous decision to the hometown fighter.[2]
O'Connell defeated Kori Farr by unanimous decision to win the vacant Commonwealth female bantamweight title on 3 December 2020.[2][3] She was named "Female Fighter of the Year" at The Inner Sanctum's 2021 Australian boxing awards.[4]
In July 2022 she was named the mandatory challenger for the IBF world bantamweight title, held by fellow Australian Ebanie Bridges. The boxers met at First Direct Arena, Leeds, England on 10 December 2022 with Bridges retaining her title by stopping O'Connell in round eight.[5][6]
On 4 October 2024, O'Connell was stopped in round four of a scheduled eight round contest against Mea Motu at The Star in Sydney, Australia.[7][8]
Personal life
O'Connell has three children and resides in Slacks Creek, south of Brisbane, Queensland. She was named the 2021 City of Logan "Sportswoman of the Year" and founded a gym in Slacks Creek named Shotgun Boxing and Fitness.[9]
Professional boxing record
| 33 fights | 24 wins | 8 losses |
|---|---|---|
| By knockout | 12 | 4 |
| By decision | 12 | 4 |
| Draws | 1 | |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33 | Loss | 24–8–1 |  Mea Motu
|
TKO | 4 (8) 1.02 | 4 Oct 2024 | The Star, Sydney, Australia | |
| 32 | Win | 24–7–1 |  Siriphon Chanbuala
|
TKO | 2 (6) 0:52 | 11 May 2024 |  Greek Club, Brisbane, Australia
|
|
| 31 | Loss | 23–7–1 | Ebanie Bridges
|
TKO | 8 (10) 1:45 | 10 Dec 2022 |  First Direct Arena, Leeds,UK
|
For IBF female bantamweight World Title |
| 30 | Win | 23–6–1 | Sarah Higginson
|
TKO | 1 (6) 1:41 | 29 Jun 2022 | Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
|
|
| 29 | Win | 22–6–1 | Taylah Robertson
|
SD | 10 (10) | 23 Oct 2021 | Gold Coast Convention Centre, Broadbeach, Queensland, Australia
|
For Commonwealth Boxing Council Bantamweight Title |
| 28 | Win | 21–6–1 | Cherneka Johnson
|
SD | 10 (10) | 13 Mar 2021 | Bendigo Stadium, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia
|
For Vacant WBA Gold World Bantamweight Title |
| 27 | Win | 20–6–1 | Kori Farr
|
UD | 10 (10) | 3 Dec 2020 | Fortitude Music Hall, Fortitude Valley, Queensland, Australia
|
For Vacant Commonwealth Boxing Council Bantamweight Title |
| 26 | Win | 19–6–1 | Kylie Fulmer
|
TKO | 7 (8) 0:29 | 26 Aug 2020 | Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
|
For Vacant Australian Super Bantamweight Title |
| 25 | Win | 18–6–1 | Bianca Elmir
|
SD | 6 (6) | 31 Aug 2019 | Bendigo Stadium, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia
|
|
| 24 | Win | 17–6–1 |  Febriyanti Lubis
|
TKO | 3 (6) 0:17 | 30 Mar 2019 | Fortitude Stadium, Newstead, Queensland, Australia
|
|
| 23 | Win | 16–6–1 | Sumalee Tongpootorn
|
KO | 1 (6) 1:40 | 13 Dec 2017 | Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
|
|
| 22 | Loss | 15–6–1 |  Helen Joseph
|
KO | 2 (8) 0:55 | 29 Jul 2017 | The Famous Fortitude Gym , Newstead, Queensland, Australia
|
|
| 21 | Loss | 15–5–1 |  Marcela Eliana Acuña
|
UD | 10 (10) | 16 Jun 2017 | Ce.De.M. N° 2, Caseros, Buenos Aires, Argentina
|
IBF World female super bantamweight title |
| 20 | Win | 15–4–1 | Laura Soledad Griffa
|
UD | 8 (8) | 10 Dec 2016 | Spark Arena, Auckland, New Zealand
|
WBO Asia Pacific Super Bantamweight Title |
| 19 | Win | 14–4–1 |  Edina Kiss
|
UD | 10 (10) | 21 Oct 2016 | Sleeman Sports Complex, Chandler, Queensland, Australia
|
WBC Silver female super bantamweight title |
| 18 | Win | 13–4–1 |  Kimika Miyoshi
|
UD | 10 (10) | 13 Aug 2016 | Melbourne Park Function Centre, Melbourne, Australia
|
WBC Silver female super bantamweight title |
| 17 | Win | 12–4–1 | Tanwarat Saengiamjit
|
KO | 6 (10) 00:57 | 9 Apr 2016 | Warrnambool Stadium, Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia
|
vacant WBC Silver female super bantamweight title |
| 16 | Draw | 11–4–1 |  Dayana Cordero
|
TD | 3 (10) | 21 November 2015 | Bendigo Stadium, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia
|
For vacant WBC female silver featherweight title |
| 15 | Loss | 11–4 |  Sandy Tsagouris
|
UD | 8 | 11 September 2015 | Ricoh Coliseum, Toronto, Canada
|
|
| 14 | Win | 11–3 | Saranphat Sirisot
|
TKO | 1 (6), 1:46 | 13 June 2015 | Fortitude Stadium, Newstead, Queensland, Australia
|
|
| 13 | Win | 10–3 | Bronwyn Wylie
|
UD | 10 | 6 July 2014 | Grand Star Receptions, Altona North, Victoria, Australia
|
Won vacant WIBA World super bantamweight title |
| 12 | Win | 9–3 | Gentiane Lupi
|
MD | 6 | 17 May 2014 | PCYC, Nerang, Queensland, Australia
|
|
| 11 | Loss | 8–3 | Diana Prazak
|
TKO | 5 (10), 1:56 | 1 March 2014 | The Melbourne Pavilion, Flemington, Victoria, Australia
|
For WBC World female super featherweight title |
| 10 | Win | 8–2 |  Gabisile Tshabalala
|
KO | 7 (10), 0:36 | 29 June 2013 | Graceland Hotel Casino, Secunda, South Africa
|
Won vacant WBF female featherweight title |
| 9 | Loss | 7–2 |  Choi Hyun-mi
|
UD | 10 | 8 May 2013 | KBS Sports World, Seoul, South Korea
|
For WBA World female featherweight title |
| 8 | Win | 7–1 | Narelle Leahey
|
UD | 6 | 4 April 2013 | Southport RSL Club, Southport, Queensland, Australia
|
Won vacant Australia – Queensland State female featherweight title |
| 7 | Win | 6–1 | Pimchanok Ruamwong
|
TKO | 3 (6), 0:36 | 24 October 2012 | South Sydney Junior Rugby League Club, Kingsford, New South Wales, Australia
|
|
| 6 | Win | 5–1 | Naruemol Ubuabon
|
UD | 8 | 24 August 2012 | Mansfield Tavern, Mansfield, Queensland, Australia
|
|
| 5 | Win | 4–1 | Michelle Preston
|
UD | 6 | 29 June 2012 | ABA Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand
|
|
| 4 | Win | 3–1 | Chuthaporn Pradissan
|
TKO | 5 (6), 1:54 | 3 June 2012 | Mansfield Tavern, Mansfield, Queensland, Australia
|
|
| 3 | Win | 2–1 | Pimchanok Ruamwong
|
TKO | 3 (6), 0:30 | 24 March 2012 | Irish Club Hotel, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia
|
|
| 2 | Loss | 1–1 | Sara George
|
UD | 6 | 2 March 2012 | Mansfield Tavern, Mansfield, Queensland, Australia
|
For vacant Australia – Queensland State female bantamweight title |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Kelly O'Doherty
|
TKO | 3 (6), 0:58 | 15 December 2011 | Gambaro's Restaurant and Function Centre, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
|
References
- ^ a b "Shannon O'Connell: Boxing champion's troubled childhood". couriermail.com.au. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
- ^ a b c d e "Boxrec: Shannon O'Connell". boxrec.com. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
- ^ "Justis Huni wins Australian heavyweight title defence over Arsene Fosso with fourth round stoppage". Sporting News. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ "Australian Boxing Awards". 29 December 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
- ^ "Boxing Results: Ebanie Bridges Wins Thrilling Toe-To-Toe Battle With Shannon O'Connell". boxingnews24.com. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ "Ebanie Bridges stops Shannon O'Connell after epic brawl in all-Aussie title fight". Sporting News. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ "Ellie Scotney-bound Mea Motu makes statement against Shannon O'Connell". Boxing Scene. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
- ^ "'It's a golf ball' – Ebanie Bridges' ex-rival left with horrific injury and in bloody mess by undefeated foe". Talksport. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
- ^ ""How Boxing Saved Shannons Life"". 2 March 2022. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
External links
- Shannon O'Connell on Twitter
- Boxing record for Shannon O'Connell from BoxRec (registration required)
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