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Revealed: The rising boxers likely to represent Australia in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles

After the biggest Australian boxing team competed at the Paris Olympics, BRENDAN BRADFORD dives into a shortlist of rising Aussie stars who could make the LA team in 2028.

Spencer prepares for 'BEST' Tim Tszyu

Boxing will officially be at the Olympics in 2028 after a landmark ruling in March, saving the amateur version of the sport from disaster.

The biggest Australian boxing team in Olympics history went to Paris, and now this masthead can reveal the frontrunners to pull on a pair of gloves in LA.

And two of likely fighters will actually be in action this weekend on Tim Tszyu’s undercard in Newcastle.

These are 10 of the fighters to watch out for on their journey to the next Olympics.

Cooper O’Connell – welterweight

The son of Aussie boxing legend ‘Shotgun’ Shannon O’Connell, Cooper is arguably the best prospect of the younger bunch.

Fighting professionally on the Tim Tszyu undercard this weekend, O’Connell won the Youth World Championship gold medal last year. He’s only the third Aussie, after Clay Waterman and Justis Huni to do it.

“He is a really, really, really good prospect,” said Australian Olympic boxing coach Marcos Amado. “He fights on the Tim Tszyu undercard, and won the Youth World Championship at the end of last year.

“It was massive for him.”

Cooper O'Connell. Picture: Supplied/Instagram
Cooper O'Connell. Picture: Supplied/Instagram

April Napthine – flyweight

An incredible story.

She was an absolute gun, set for Commonwealth Games and Olympic greatness. She fell pregnant, and now has a son and a daughter, and didn’t know if she wanted to keep boxing.

“She’s blown everyone away,” Amado said. “And as far as role models and mentors to the younger fighters, she’s really good.”

She’s the national under-50kg amateur champion and last Saturday beat Jemma Peart in Sydney to become the national champion in the same division in the professional ranks.

She becomes the first fighter ever to simultaneously hold the amateur and professional versions of the same belt.

April Napthine and her team. Picture: Supplied/Instagram boxer
April Napthine and her team. Picture: Supplied/Instagram boxer

Callum Peters – light heavyweight

Charmed Australia in Paris, and was unlucky to drop a decision to eventual silver medallist Nurbek Oralbay.

He immediately turned professional after the Games, debuting with a first round knockout win in December.

A truly unique character, Peters boxes in indoor football shoes, like his idols Oleksandr Usyk and Vasily Lomachenko.

He’ll be back in action in his second pro bout on Tim Tszyu’s undercard on Sunday.

He undoubtedly has a bright future ahead of him in the pro ranks, but Amado is hopeful he’ll still be eligible and available for LA.

Callum Peters (L) catches Nurbek Oralbay at the Olympics last year. Picture: Jiang Wenyao/Xinhua via Getty Images
Callum Peters (L) catches Nurbek Oralbay at the Olympics last year. Picture: Jiang Wenyao/Xinhua via Getty Images

Marissa Williamson Pohlman – welterweight

A Paris Olympian, Williamson-Pohlman has podium potential, and there are hopes she will turn out in Los Angeles in three years’ time.

Williamson-Pohlman also has an incredible backstory, having overcome mental health struggles and homelessness on the way to the Olympics.

Marissa Williamson Pohlman. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images for AOC
Marissa Williamson Pohlman. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images for AOC
Tyla McDonald (L) made her Olympics debut in Paris. Picture: Pete Dovgan/Speed Media/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Tyla McDonald (L) made her Olympics debut in Paris. Picture: Pete Dovgan/Speed Media/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Tyla McDonald – lightweight

The youngest member of the team in Paris at just 20, McDonald has heaps of talent and will still be 24 when the LA Games rolls around.

The Victorian went down in a decision at the Olympics last year, but should be back in 2028.

Monique Suraci – flyweight

Suraci is rated “podium ready” by Boxing Australia and is the number one ranked flyweight in the country.

“She’ll be around, she’s a Paris Olympian,” Amado said. “She’ll be around for sure.”

Monique Suraci. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images for AOC
Monique Suraci. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images for AOC
Jacob Cassar. Picture: Supplied/Instagram
Jacob Cassar. Picture: Supplied/Instagram

Jacob Cassar – lightweight

The Victorian teenager is one of the country’s best rising prospects.

The 18-year-old has already travelled the world in pursuit of his boxing dreams, and won bronze at the Independence Cup in the Dominican Republic in February.

Jye Dixon – flyweight

A seven-time national and Queensland champion, Dixon is still just 20 years old, but has the world at his feet.

Dixon trains at the famed All Star Boxing Academy just north of Brisbane. It’s the same gym boxing star Liam Wilson trains at.

Last year, Dixon stepped in on late notice to fight Brazilian Olympian Michael Trindade. After receiving the call up a day before, Dixon ended up winning a razor thin split decision in one of the best and biggest victories of his career.

Jye Dixon. Picture: Supplied/Instagram
Jye Dixon. Picture: Supplied/Instagram

Lachlan Lawson – cruiserweight

A two-time national champion, Lawson is one to watch in the cruiserweight division.

He most recently won the Australian elite title in November last year in Canberra and was awarded the Arthur Tunstall Trophy as the best boxer of the tournament.

He trains on The Central Coast and is classed as an emerging talent ahead of the 2028 Games.

Lachlan Lawson boxer (R). Picture: Supplied/Instagram
Lachlan Lawson boxer (R). Picture: Supplied/Instagram
Beau Piggott. Picture: Supplied/Instagram
Beau Piggott. Picture: Supplied/Instagram

Beau Piggott – bantamweight

The Victorian isn’t on the Boxing Australia list of fighters, but has impressed at recent National Futures Camps at the AIS in Canberra.

Piggott is only just entering his first full year as an elite boxer and is looking to get to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2026, before focusing on LA.


Originally published as Revealed: The rising boxers likely to represent Australia in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/boxing-mma/revealed-the-rising-boxers-likely-to-represent-australia-in-the-2028-olympics-in-los-angeles/news-story/f866ec92f4f1b97d462a3915c7c091e8