Boxing: Gold Coast’s Che Kenneally set to fight Claressa Shields in hope of unifying her world title belts

A fight between Gold Coast boxer Che Kenneally and one of the greatest female fighters of all time is on the cards as Kenneally looks to build on her record-breaking career. Find out more.

WBA light heavyweight world champion Che Kenneally is hoping to fight Claressa Shields in early 2025.

Gold Coast boxer Che Kenneally has thrown down the gauntlet to one of the greatest female fighters of all time as she looks to build on her record-breaking career.

Kenneally became the quickest Australian fighter to reach world champion status – a crown that was held by the great Jeff Fenech – in July when she defeated Angie Paola Rocha (14-4-3) for the WBA light heavyweight title in just her fifth professional fight.

Now, she is desperately seeking to step into the ring with Claressa Shields (15-0), who is a two-time Olympic gold medallist and has fought across five different weight classes.

Many consider Shields to be the greatest female boxer of all time and she holds the WBO and WBC light heavyweights belts, among a plethora of other titles.

“I just think Che’s too big for her, she’s too tall, too strong, six-foot, muscly” said Kenneally’s trainer Fidel Tukel, who is based in Burleigh and trains the likes of Demsey McKean.

“Claressa’s 5’8, she started at 69 kilos, Che works down from 80 kilos, there’s a big size difference and a big weight difference.

“At the end of the day we’re looking for the opportunity, it’s up to them to ask for it. We’ve got one world title, they’ve got the other two, so it would be good to unify the three of them.”

Claressa Shields shows off her array of titles. Picture: Mark Brown/Getty Images.

Talks are progressing for what would be a must-watch fight between Kenneally and Shields. Shields’ status as one of the sport’s ‘GOATS’ speaks for itself while Kenneally’s power-packed and towering frame can withstand sparring battles with 90-kilogram men.

If the fight were to eventuate it is expected to take place between February and March in 2025. In the meantime, Kenneally is on the cusp of being locked in to fight on the undercard of Jai Opetaia’s highly anticipated homecoming bout at the Gold Coast Convention Centre on January 8.

Kenneally was previously a Miss Oceania contestant in a world supermodel pageant and has also represented both Australia and New Zealand in shot put, discus and hammer throw.

Boxer Che Kenneally.Picture: Nigel Hallett.

Her career came to a crossroads during Covid when she had been on the cusp of qualifying for the New Zealand Olympic team as a boxer before lockdowns halted everything.

“I was living by myself at the time in Sydney, I lost myself a little bit, I didn’t know if I wanted to fight because I only knew fighting and then we weren’t fighting and we couldn’t train and couldn’t go to the gym, so I just stopped and fell pregnant,” Kenneally said.

“That just put a halt to everything but in the back of my mind I knew I still wanted to fight, I wasn’t finished with the sport.

“I wanted to let everyone know I bring a lot to the sport and I’m not a wasted talent. I’m proud of myself that after having a baby I got back in the ring and did it as a single parent while having a child.”

Model turned boxer Che Kenneally with her daughter Havana, 2. Picture: Nigel Hallett.

Kenneally would relocate to the Gold Coast and started training under Tukel.

“He put me on the path to a world title,” Kenneally said.

“I just trusted the process and trusted him and who he thought I should fight and how we should get there, 18 months in and he wasn’t wrong.”

Kenneally said it was during the lead in to her world title bout that all the emotion hit her.

“I’d worked so hard … my daughter was only 6 months, still sleeping with me, I was still working full-time in Brisbane and running off four hours sleep, training two or three times a day to get to that point.

“When I finally got the chance for the world title fight and I was doing the camp, the last couple of weeks it got really emotional.

“I had a few people doubting me like I didn’t deserve the shot but out of anyone I felt like I was the most deserving because of what I’d been through and how hard I’d worked.”

Gold Coast boxer Che Kenneally with her WBA light heavyweight world champion belt at the Fite Klub gym in Burleigh, where she trains under Fidel Tukel. Picture: Mitch Bourke.

Kenneally added that the world title fight itself “wasn’t amazing”, and that she wished she could’ve showcased more of her skill.

Her focus is now steadfast on unifying her belts, with Shield and Lani Daniels – who holds the IBF light heavyweight world title – both firmly in the crosshairs.

“I’m just waiting for my opportunity to get in the ring with them and take what’s mine,” Kenneally said.

“I don’t like sitting here waiting and doing nothing, I want to be active and I want to be fighting.

“We’re looking for an in-between fight until we get to (Shields), and then if we can’t get her it’ll be Lani Daniels for the IBF title and that’d be great.

“I want to fight anyone.”

Originally published as Boxing: Gold Coast’s Che Kenneally set to fight Claressa Shields in hope of unifying her world title belts