Boxer has eyes on new title less than a year after death of rival

Days after winning his first WBF title boxer Adam Flood learned his opponent had died from his injuries. Now, the 22-year-old dad returns to the ring for the first time since the harrowing ordeal.

Five days is all that separates Adam Flood’s greatest triumph from a soul crushing tragedy.

In that time he celebrated a debut World Boxing Federation title win and then mourned the death of his opponent to injuries sustained in the fight.

On a cool July night in 2024 the Toowoomba boxer and father of three (now with a fourth child on the way), won the vacant WBF Australasian Super Lightweight title by defeating Lemuel Silisia on points.

In front of a passionate Tamworth crowd who had adopted the Solomon Islander as one of their own, Silisia chatted to fans and the media and posed for photos after the Saturday night fight.

By Sunday afternoon Silisia was admitted to hospital and family members reported his death on the following Wednesday.

News of Silisia’s hospitalisation initially surprised the 22-year-old Flood but he hopeful his opponent would be fine.

“When I got back (to Toowoomba) they let me know he was in hospital,” Flood said.

“It was a bit scary but I thought he would be all right.”

Before the second, crushing phone call came through days later, Flood had endured horrific premonitions and knew the worst was coming.

“They called me a couple of days later and I knew straight away he had died,” Flood said.

“The night before (the second phone call) I was having dreams – talking to him in my dreams. It was very weird.

“After that it was hard. I knew the sport was scary in that sense but I didn’t know someone was going to die from it.

“I know people who have in the past but I just didn’t think that was going to happen to us.”

This Sunday Flood will have to push all his fear and anxiety aside when he steps into the ring for the first time since the tragedy.

Toowoomba boxer Adam Flood with his trainer Brett Richards ahead of his fight for the WBA Oceania Welterweight championship in Sydney. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Flood will fight Mirko Pizzi for the World Boxing Association Oceania Welterweight title.

It was no easy road to get to that breakthrough moment though.

Sidelined by a hand injury sustained in his fight with Silisia, Flood battled personal demons as he contemplated his future and the death of a fellow fighter.

Flood’s turmoil worsened when vicious trolls and people believed to be close to Silisia, targeted him online.

In a state of shock in the immediate aftermath of Silisia’s death, Flood said things got a lot tougher as the reality of what could’ve been weighed on him.

“The first few weeks, I did it fairly easy. It probably didn’t rattle me that much,” he said.

“But the more I thought about it and going back to boxing it messed me up a bit.

“Thinking f**k it could have been me.

“I’ve got three kids and a fourth on the way – sitting there throwing back and forward do I keep boxing and risk something like that happening and leaving my kids without a dad.

“That was the biggest thing that threw me around.”

“I had about four or five months off, just at home sitting there.

“My partner knows more than anyone that boxing is one of the main things I know. I love it dearly.

“I was chewing at the bit to get back in there and I think it just took a long time to process everything and then I just went this (boxing) is for me.

“I have to put that past me and I’m aware it can happen but I just try not to think about it too much because it is part of the sport.”

Some of the biggest ground he made however happened early in his return to training.

“When I sat with my partner, one of the first things (we talked about) was if I could still hurt someone after what happened last time,” he said.

“That’s what I was concerned about, even in sparring, if it comes down to it can I still hurt someone and not shy away from putting the pressure on?

“Once I got back into sparring and I knew that it was not fogging my judgement. When I was sparring I knew I could still tag these guys, I knew definitely I’ll get back in there and when I knew it was all good for this camp.”

Toowoomba boxer Adam Flood will fight for the WBA Oceania Welterweight championship in Sydney this Sunday – less than a year after his last opponent Lemuel Silisia died in hospital days after the pair fought for the WBF Australasian Super Lightweight title. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Alongside coach Brett Richards, Flood has had a strong and resilient supporter in his corner – longtime partner and the mother of his children Jennifer Evans.

Evans said it was difficult watching Flood deal with the aftermath of Silisia’s death but her support for him never wavered and the nerves on fight nights remain.

“It was definitely very difficult for him, you never go into a fight expecting someone is going to die,” she said.

“For him he knew it’s a possibility but you never think it’s going to happen to you.

“It’s tough watching him box. There’s always nerves.

“I support him to the best of my ability but I’m also very happy with his coaches, they’re like family I trust them with his safety.

“(Returning to boxing) It was a lot of little conversations, little by little seeing how he went sparring and seeing if he still had that confidence to hit people because if he goes into a fight worried about it’s going to have a negative effect.

“For me it was all about supporting him no matter what he decided whether he decided to go back to boxing or not my support was there.”

Toowoomba boxer Adam Flood.

A pregnant Evans will not make the trip to Sydney, opting to watch the fight from Toowoomba instead.

Flood’s clash with Pizzi presents a solid opportunity for him to rise up the world rankings with a win and he has left no stone unturned in his preparation.

“He’s tough. He’s nine (wins) and three (losses), fought really good boys and he’s coming off a really big win in December,” Flood said.

“We’ve done everything thing we can the plan is go down there and box his ears off.

“He’s a big boy, durable and he’s going to be in there for 10 rounds and keep pushing forward.

“I have to be switched on. I think my IQ is my strength.

“I feel like I’m a very smart fighter, using my speed and just getting in there trying to be a little flashy and more unpredictable than most people. Stun him early and not be lazy.”

Originally published as Boxer has eyes on new title less than a year after death of rival