Authorities ban former bikie boss Fidel Tukel from starting his new life

Ex-bikie boss Fidel Tukel’s attempt to start a new life as a boxing trainer is being thwarted by authorities - but he does have legends Jeff Fenech and Johnny Lewis in his corner.

Former bikie boss Fidel Tukel training Australian Olympic boxer Paulo Aokuso. Picture: Richard Dobson

Former bikie boss Fidel Tukel says authorities are trying to drive him back to the bikie gang after he was ordered to stop training boxers — a move that has been slammed by Australia’s most famous boxing identities.

Tukel is fighting the NSW Combat Sports Authority over a demand to cease training and working corners despite his vast experience, supposedly because of his previous links with the bikie club.

“I just want to be able to live in peace and earn a living doing what I love, which is boxing training,” Tukel said.

“They are making it impossible for me and I can’t get any straight answers.

“It’s like they want me to turn to a life of crime. It feels like they want me to go back to the bikie club.”

Fidel Tukel with Australian Olympic boxer Paulo Aokuso at Tukel’s Maroubra gym. Picture: Richard Dobson

Legendary trainers Jeff Fenech and Johnny Lewis are highly critical of the ban against Tukel, who is managing Australian Olympian and rising professional star Paulo Aokuso.

“Everybody makes mistakes, Fidel is a great example of someone who got caught up when he was young and is now trying to make a better life by doing what he loves,” Fenech said.

“The one thing I know about Fidel is that he absolutely loves boxing, he’d be training people 24 hours a day if he could.

“Are we going to stop people from doing what they love over things they did when they were younger? I don’t know what he’s done before, but if the police knew he was doing the wrong thing now surely they would charge him. It seems like he’s guilty by ­association.

“He wants to help kids, help people, he’s trying to give back to society, and he deserves that opportunity.

“Whoever is running our sport shouldn’t be worrying about guys like Fidel who love boxing and want to help and know what they’re doing, they should be looking at the guys who don’t know about the sport, who let their fighters take punishment round after round and let them get hurt – those are the people who should be kicked out of boxing.”

Retired Australian boxer Jeff Fenech says Tukel should be allowed to train boxers. Picture: AAP

Lewis was just as scathing over Tukel’s treatment.

“The fight game needs people like Fidel Tukel, he is a fine man and an asset to our sport,” Lewis said.

“I have personally seen how much money he has put into boxing single-handedly, no one has tried harder than him, his passion is unlimited.

“His generosity in keeping the fight game alive is reason enough to allow him to participate, but he also trains the guys with great enthusiasm and knowledge.

“I can’t speak highly enough about him. Are we going to ban these guys for the rest of their lives? It’s absolutely ridiculous.”

Trainer Johnny Lewis says Tukel is an asset to boxing.

Aokuso, 25, was not allowed to have Tukel in his corner when he made his pro debut last month.

“I see Fids as like a big brother, he’s good to me and to other people as well, he is a good leader for sure,” Aokuso said.

“I don’t see anything wrong, to me he’s like family, he just wants what’s best for everyone, especially myself.

“Our relationship is good, this is my first management deal and he’s taken care of me.”

Tukel has never been in jail but is subject to a Firearms Prohibition Order by NSW Police, who have refused to comment on his situation.

The NSW Combat Sports Authority also did not wish to comment on Tukel.

“I was told by a senior NSW police official that they will never leave me alone,” Tukel said. “I bumped into the ­national president of another major bikie club at a boxing event recently and told him what had been happening, and he said: ‘If this is how they treat you with everything you’ve done for the community, what chance have I got?’

“And that’s the point. People in that lifestyle should be able to see ways out, avenues to make something else of themselves. People’s directions in life change. Who is the same person now as they were 15 years ago?

“I’ve been out of the club for so many years, I’ve put all my time and energy into training kids and adults in all sports; boxing, league, union.

“I’ve been in the corner for more than 10 world championship title fights. I’ve been there with Vic Darchinyan, Will Tomlinson, Lenny Zappavigna, Kye MacKenzie and Gilberto Ramirez from Mexico.

“There wouldn’t be 10 people in the history of Australian boxing who have done more world title fights.

“So when people see how difficult it is for me to just be a boxing coach, to earn a living, what motivation is there for them to ever leave a bikie club and go straight? I want to work, and they won’t let me work.

“I’ve got the highest Working With Children Check, so I’m allowed to train kids but not adults. Does this make sense? It makes no sense to me.”

Tukel has coached Australian men and women’s Sevens rugby players, NRLW stars and Turkey’s national rugby league team, as well as working with top boxers at his Fiteklub Fitness gym in Maroubra.

“I coached the Turkish national rugby league team on Anzac Day, against the Australian Defence Force no less, at the SCG in front of 30,000 people last month, but I can’t hold pads for a fighter because I’m some kind of beast,” Tukel said.

The 41-year-old says police have “won the war against bikies” but said of Sydney’s current gang wars: “The stuff happening now won’t end, they’re kids that needed to be part of a family they never had, and they’ll filter into groups that have no patches on their backs and no clubhouses.”

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