Benji Birchell to become Australia’s youngest professional boxer aged 15, surpassing Lionel Rose

With 22 amateur fights already to his name, this baby-faced teenager is set to become Australia’s youngest ever professional boxer, surpassing the great Lionel Rose, at just 15 years old.

Sydney schoolboy Benji Birchell will break a 60-year record by becoming the youngest Australian professional boxer when he debuts next weekend aged just 15.

Birchell will surpass the legendary Lionel Rose, who turned pro aged 16 in 1964, when he enters the ring on December 15 in Bangkok, Thailand.

The son of renowned boxing cornerman David Birchell – who has worked fights with world champions including Danny Green, Anthony Mundine and Sakio Bika – has grown frustrated with limited opportunities in the amateur scene and decided to take the leap into the pro ranks.

The Year 10 student at Port Hacking High wouldn’t be allowed to turn pro in NSW until he turned 18 under the Combat Sport Authority rules, so will pursue an overseas career for the next three years and knows what’s in store.

15 year old boxer Benji Birchell (R) pictured with father and trainer David Birchell. Picture: Thomas Lisson

“I had a lot of amateur fights, I had 22 which is a lot for only someone who’s 15, and I just learned to do it there,” Birchell said.

“So then as a pro, I know what I’m doing in there. I already know how to deal with this pressure and stuff being against me. I’ve travelled to UK and the whole crowd’s been against me. I’ve gone to States, the whole crowd’s against you. So you learn to deal with it like that.”

Birchell will emulate pound-for-pound great Canelo Alvarez, who also turned pro aged 15 in Mexico.

“I’m going pro, same as Canelo, 15 years old, hopefully I can be as good, if not better than him,” Birchell said.

Birchell wants to emulate the feats of Mexican fighter Saul Canelo Alvarez (right). Picture: Mexsport

“I’m ready. I’ll do whatever it takes. I don’t care if it’s hate, if they love me, it doesn’t matter.

“I don’t want to be a pointscoring fighter, I want to knock people out. That’s what I want to do. I want to make a show for everyone.”

Birchell, who will fight in the 48kg flyweight division, has been in training camp with Green recently and has sparred Mundine, convincing his dad he’s ready.

“I wouldn’t have gone down this path if I didn’t have good guidance from friends,” David Birchell said.

“People I trust like Greeny, he did a camp out with him and if Greeny had said to me, ‘Birch, it’s not time yet, he’s not ready’, I would have scrapped it.

“He calls him the Junkyard Dog, because he’ll do anything. He went hard and he said, ‘He’s a little man now, he can handle it’. Same with Choc (Mundine).

“Choc comes down to the gym all the time, he sparred with Benji a few times, just mucking around, but he’s also seen his dedication to the training.

“And that’s the thing, I’ve got good people around that are able to give good advice. And they reckon he’s ready for it. I reckon he’s ready for it.”

Birchell has racked up 22 amateur fights by the age of 15. Picture: Thomas Lisson

David watches his son sparring 34-year-old Nasser Hawda, at Billy Hussein’s Bodypunch Gym in Lakemba, and is constantly offering advice in the corner.

“He’s done the right thing, he’s dotting the i’s, crossing the t’s,” Birchell said.

“He’s doing the training right, dieting right, everything right. He’s living right.

“The training’s hard, and that’s not comfortable. Most kids aren’t going to enjoy sparring with a guy like Nasser.

“That’s the last thing you want to do. But Benji’s coming in here sparring two southpaws. And they’re going to be tougher than anyone who’s going to fight as a pro. So this is where we do all the homework.”

Benji, pictured with father and trainer David Birchell. Picture: Thomas Lisson

The teenager, who often rises at 5am to do sprints and running, and then does boxing training after school, has the sport running through his veins.

“I just love it, I love the training, I’ve always been disciplined with doing it,” said Birchell, who has Indigenous and Maori heritage.

“I mean, I couldn’t help but grow up around it.

“I’m still at school at the moment, I’m balancing training and school. My attendance might not be the best, but I try and go as much as I can still get an education.

“You want to be smart, and have boxing as well.”

Originally published as Benji Birchell to become Australia’s youngest professional boxer aged 15, surpassing Lionel Rose