Former model Che Kenneally chases world-title dream

Not so long ago Che Kenneally was on the catwalk. Now she does ringwalks and the ex-model fights for a world title on Saturday night.

She is the former beauty queen on the verge of breaking a boxing record held by Australian Hall of Famer Jeff Fenech.

From the catwalk to ringwalks, Gold Coaster Che Kenneally is chasing a rare slice of Australian boxing history when she fights for a world title on Saturday night at Southport Sharks.

The beauty-queen brawler from Mermaid Beach faces the biggest test of her professional career when Kenneally (4-0) takes on Colombian Angie Rocha (14-4-3) for the vacant WBA light heavyweight world title.

Former model Che Kenneally is set to fight for a world title. Picture: Liam Kidston

At stake is not only the chance to conquer the world, but to deliver the knockout blow to a 39-year-old record held by Fenech.

No Australian boxer has won a world title in fewer fights than the legendary Fenech, who became the IBF bantamweight king when he beat Satoshi Shingaki in just his seventh bout in 1985.

Almost four decades later, Fenech’s famous record will tumble if the unbeaten Kenneally disposes of Rocha, 38, to become a world champion in her fifth fight.

The six-fight card, headlined by Jalen Tait’s main event against former Olympian Ibrahim Balla, will be shown free-to-air on 7Plus and Kenneally is primed to put on a show for a national audience.

“It’s the biggest fight of Che’s career. This is her moment. She is ready for this,” said her Burleigh-based trainer Fidel Tukel.

“Jeff Fenech took seven fights to win a world title and this is Che’s fifth fight.

“If she wins, she makes Australian boxing history.

The legendary Jeff Fenech (left) won a world title in just his seventh fight.

“This is one of the biggest fights we’ve seen for Australian women’s boxing.

“Cherneka Johnson and Skye Nicolson are world champions right now, so to get one more in Che would be unbelievable for women’s boxing in this country.

“This is the time to strike and Che is good enough to be a world champion.”

The 29-year-old single mum’s path to planned pugilistic glory is as compelling as it is unconventional.

Kenneally represented Australia and New Zealand in shot put, discus and hammer throw and ended up a Miss Oceania contestant in a world supermodel pageant in Fiji after a chance cafe meeting with a talent agent.

“I was in a coffee shop and she (modelling agent) asked if I did modelling,” Kenneally recalls.

“I said no and she said, ‘I want you to be Miss Oceania’.

“There were about 15 girls and I ended up making the top 10, which was great because it opened up a lot of opportunities for me with sponsorships and TV commercials.”

Kenneally is a former discus and shot put champion.

But boxing was in her blood — Che’s father was a fighter — and Kenneally decided to turn pro last year following the birth of her daughter Havana.

Now her world-title dream can become reality.

“The moment I did pads with her, I knew she could be a world champion one day,” Tukel said.

“She is a beast in training. No-one works harder than Che. She takes no shortcuts.

“Che is genuinely talented. It’s hard to find sparring for her, so she happily takes on the men.

“There’s not many women who have the size to handle Che.”

Kenneally loves being the fighting mum.

“I had my daughter two years ago and I was on a mission to prove everyone wrong that I was done in boxing,” she said.

“People who say they don’t have time in life, I call bulls***.

“To be the best in the world and have the belt, it’s something I could give to my daughter and leave a legacy.”

Originally published as Former model Che Kenneally chases world-title dream