Darkness to Redemption: Sunny Mawer’s remarkable comeback from rock bottom
A lot of teenagers are on the back-end of bullying when at school, but for 17-year-old Sunny Mawer, that was the least of his worries.
Local Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A lot of teenagers are on the back-end of bullying when at school, but for 17-year-old Sunny Mawer, that was the least of his worries.
About to headline the Elite Fight Series on Saturday night, Mawer was lucky to still be fighting after a troubled childhood had cops raiding his house.
Mawer fell into a dark place after getting mixed up into the wrong crowd and hard drugs pierced into the fighters life and the destructive lifestyle soon followed.
Lost in a haze of substance abuse, he strayed from the path he once walked with unwavering conviction.
“I fell into a bad friendship group, and had a difficult home situation going on,” he said.
“I got caught up in it real bad, left school, dropped down to 40kg, just bones really and the house got raided by cops at one point.
“Around that time I fell out with my Dad really badly and cut contact with my family.
“It was like losing a part of myself.
“I lost my identity, my passion … I lost everything.
“I remember doing a night of training and my head was everywhere. I literally couldn’t make it through the session without crying and I started to wake up to myself. I couldn’t believe what my life had become.”
Coming out on the other side thanks to the support network from his DF Gym in Manunda, Mawer will step into the ring to face off against Sam Roberts of Nukzu Muay Thai, a showdown that promises to be a thriller.
Mawer said he got into Muay Thai fighting after struggling with bullying when he was 13.
“I was getting bullied a lot through school,” Mawer said.
“I started at DF Gym when I was ten and I just fell in love from there.
“Just having more confidence about myself, like, a real confidence, not a facade or anything, just knowing that I can defend myself.”
It wasn’t long before the brutal puncher put together a 19–9 record.
Muay Thai taught Mawer discipline which helped him eventually escape the dark path that ultimately would have ended his life.
His father, Wayne Mawer, a legend in the world of water sports, whose own battles against the tides mirrored his son’s struggles in the ring.
Wayne Mawer, a three-time IWWF Water Ski Racing World Champion and two-time Wakeboarding World Champion, recognised the signs of his son’s turmoil and despite a falling out, Wayne remained a guiding compass for Sunny’s road to redemption.
“He’s been a big inspiration,” Sunny Mawer said.
“He’s pulled me from the depths, he’s been my backbone, his morals and everything. It’s what I’ve been able to create my own backbone from.
“My dad’s unconditional love and belief in me has triggered me to have that unconditional belief in myself that I’m going to make it no matter what. Just be the best you can be.”
Wayne sent his son across to the United States to stay with his family to escape the demons and piece his life back together. Sunny embarked on a six month journey of self-discovery, a journey fuelled by sweat, tears, and the resolve to reclaim his place in the ring.
After returning to the Far North on the first day of 2024, he cracked straight into fight camp at Fight Academy.
Fight Academy owner Patrick Doherty said since his return, he’s the hardest working fighter in the gym, he trains five hours a day ranging from two to three sessions a day.
“Been to hell and back, the only place I go is to the gym. I’ve just come back as this new person,” he said.
“I’m not afraid of the pain, I love the pain, it’s real and I embrace it.
“I’m fitter and have more willpower than my opponent, it’s all just a mental battle heading into this fight.”
Now he stands on the precipice of his greatest challenge yet and Mawer is ready for the throne.
Mawer’s fighting style is ferocious, unpredictable, and undeniably captivating. With an orthodox stance and lightning-quick hands, his movements are calculated chaos. Inspired by the relentless tenacity of legends like Ramon ‘the Diamond’ Dekkers and Jonathan ‘The General’ Haggerty, Mawer embodies the essence of his idols, fearless, relentless and driven by belief in his own abilities.
“It’ll be a build up of pressure on my back. As I step in the ring that pressure will slowly release until I touch gloves,” Mawer said.
“One day I will be the best in the world, Muay Thai, and then eventually MMA, but that’s the journey.”
But beyond the spectacle of the ring lies a deeper narrative, a tale of a father’s love, a son’s redemption, and the unbreakable bond that binds them together. For Wayne Mawer, watching his son charge back into the ring will garner a moment of pride.
More Coverage
Originally published as Darkness to Redemption: Sunny Mawer’s remarkable comeback from rock bottom
The 50+ rising stars of Townsville and District Rugby Union in 2024
Meet the future Wallabies and Wallaroos already gracing rugby fields around North Queensland in the TDRU’s junior competitions. Find out more about each club’s standout juniors.
2025 QRSS calendar released exposing key clashes
The 2025 Queensland Representative School Sport calendar has been released, with some surprise clashes posing questions for many cross-code athletes across the state. View the full list: