Popular Gympie boxer Danny Hawkins back on Fred Brophy Tour after stabbing

A brutal stabbing at his family home has not stopped Danny Hawkins from doing what he loves, with the boxer back in the ring and taking on brave, amateur Qld punters. SEE THE VIDEO

Gympie boxer Danny Hawkins is back doing what he does best less than two years after almost losing his life in a horrific stabbing in the front yard of his family home.

The 48-year-old who runs his own gym, Savage Boxing Fitness Centre, is back touring Queensland with the iconic Fred Brophy Boxing Troupe, defending his unbeaten run as one of almost a dozen professional boxers stepping in the ring each night with various brave, amateur punters from whatever town they happen to be in.

For a man who had to recover from blood loss and multiple injuries to his chest and head following the September 2021 attack, Hawkins’ resilience and fitness is almost superhuman.

“It’s not good coming second in a two-man race,” he said of his unblemished record in the Brophy tent.

He has been part of the troupe on and off for 11 years now, and had up to 200 fights without a single loss.

Gympie boxer Danny Hawkins said it was impossible to judge a book by its cover fighting as part of Fred Brophy’s Boxing Troupe, with some of his toughest bouts coming against people who “look like accountants”.

When he was set upon in September 2021, he was airlifted to Brisbane for life saving surgery.

Now, with the ringleader of the attack finally sentenced to jail earlier this month, Hawkins just wants to put the incident behind him.

The nature of injuries he received preclude him from getting the medical clearance to step back into an official boxing ring, but not a Fred Brophy Troupe “ring”.

Brophy’s setup is simple: The tour rolls into town, pitches tent and invites new challengers willing to take their shot at the professionals.

Challengers step onto the scaffold for three one minute rounds and “we’ll go as hard as they go”.

“It’s about putting on a show,” Hawkins said.

Danny Hawkins, who owns, trains and coaches in Gympie at the Savage Boxing and Fitness Centre, said the Fred Brophy ring was not a place for people to take their egos.

It’s something punters can tell their grandchildren about and maybe “let them tick it off their bucket list”, he said.

Some put up a good fight too.

“You can’t judge a book by its cover.

“Some of the toughest fights I’ve had have been against guys that look like accountants.”

This included a memorable bout against a man who did not reveal until after the fight that he had been an amateur boxing champion.

The occasional loudmouth popped up too, he said, but they were never able to back their words up.

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One recent show-off was knocked out in six seconds.

“It’s not a place you go to for your ego,” Hawkins said.

He was no longer the only Gympie boxer on the tour, with fellow resident Tony Chan now part of it.

Hawkins reckons anyone who has not taken a look at a Fred Brophy event should do it before it’s too late.

“If someone hasn’t been to one, go … they should do it sooner rather than later.”

Click here to see where the Fred Brophy Boxing Troupe is headed next.