Former Comanchero bikie boss Fidel Tukel barred from boxing, mixed martial arts: tribunal

Fidel Tukel counts Comanchero bosses Mark Buddle and Daux Ngakuru as old mates. But old associations came back to haunt him. Not even glowing references from boxing legends Jeff Fenech and Danny Green helped.

Former Comanchero bikie boss Fidel Tukel, left, pictured with Danny Green, top right, and Jeff and Suzee Fenech, bottom right. Green and Fenech gave him glowing references. Pictures: News Corp/Supplied

A former bikie boss has been denied a boxing trainer’s licence due to his “continued associations” with high-ranking members of Australia’s most feared outlaw motorcycle gang.

Fidel Tukel, a one-time president of the Comanchero who counts international gang heavy weights Mark Buddle, Daux Ngakuru and Pasilika Naufahu as friends, has been left down and out after the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal on Wednesday upheld a decision by the Combat Sports Authority (CSA) to refuse his application for registration as a boxing and mixed martial arts trainer.

In a lengthy judgment, NCAT member Theresa Simon delivered a knockout blow to Tukel’s ambitions to become a registered trainer, finding he was not a “fit and proper” person to hold such a position and his continued involvement in the sport would risk damaging its reputation.

Her decision came despite Tukel providing the tribunal with glowing references from some of Australia’s most high-profile sporting figures including world champion boxers Jeff Fenech and Danny Green, legendary trainer Johnny Lewis, retired boxer turned promoter Will Thomlinson, female rugby star Eva Karpani and ex-Manly Sea Eagles coach Jim Dymock.

Each described Tukel as a passionate, dedicated coach, with Mr Fenech saying he believed Tukel’s continued involvement in boxing “would only be a benefit to our great sport”.

Fidel Tukel, a former boss of the Comanchero bikie gang, has been refused registration to become a boxing and mixed marital arts trainer. Picture: Richard Dobson

But Ms Simon said Tukel’s prior senior role in a criminal organisation “with a reputation for violence and strong links to drug activity” would create a perception that the industry was linked to crime and violence.

The tribunal heard Tukel, who is also related to Hakan Ayik, Australia’s most wanted man, joined the Comanchero in May 2011 and held the position of lieutenant of the gang’s East Crew from at least 2013 to 2015.

Fidel Tukel (left), pictured with Comanchero master sergeant Ian Clissold, senior member Terry Parker and club founder Jock Ross, during his time as a gang member.

He told the tribunal he resigned from the gang in 2016, handing in his colours that year while on a trip Turkey.

He denied maintaining close contact with senior and influential members of the gang, however the tribunal heard Tukel was seen having dinner with senior Comanchero leaders including Mark Buddle and Daux Ngakuru in Turkey in 2017.

The tribunal was also told Tukel had spent time with club member Ali Bazzi at a ‘running of the bulls’ event in Spain in 2016, had attended the funeral of Buddle’s mother in 2018 and was the godfather to the oldest son of New Zealand’s national Comanchero boss, Pasilika Naufahu.

Ms Simon accepted that Tukel’s ongoing contact with club members were “sporadic and limited”, but said even that level of association gave rise to a risk of future involvement in the gang.

Boxer Will Thomlinson pictured with Fidel Tukel. Thomlinson gave Tukel a character reference for his tribunal proceedings.

Meanwhile, lawyers for CSA also alleged Tukel has previously been participating in the boxing industry as a trainer or “second” without registration, in breach of the Combat Sports Act.

They pointed to evidence contained in media reports and from eyewitnesses at several organised, highly-publicised fights who observed Tukel training registered fighters including Luke Jackson, Jackson Murray, and Olympian Paulo Aokuso.

The tribunal heard Tukel was investigated but never criminally charged over the allegations, however Ms Simon found the breaches established based on the evidence before her.

“The tribunal cannot be satisfied that Mr Tukel is a fit and proper person to be registered as an industry participant,” she said, in dismissing the appeal.