Brett Taylor wins fourth belt after opponent’s disappearing act

In the space of 48 hours Brett Taylor experienced a fourth no-show, won a WBF World Title, and fought up two weight-classes. Read the Darwin boxer’s incredible story here.

In what was one of the most bizarre and best weekend’s of his life, Darwin’s Brett “Jakamarra” Taylor was put through the absolute wringer.

A boxer in every sense of the word, 62-year-old Taylor has seen a lot in his 50-years with the gloves, but confessed his experience last month was the most mental to date.

The holder of three belts coming into the clash, Taylor was after his fourth, but was more importantly looking to end a five-year-long feud.

“My opponent had been calling me out and talking trash since before covid,” Taylor explained.

“He’d pulled out of three fights with me ahead of this one, so I was already pretty frustrated with him.

“I’d even gone up to his division; I usually fight at Super Welterweight (69kg) but went up to this guy’s class at Middleweight (72kg) to make it easier for him.”

Understandably agitated with his opponent, Taylor had flown to the Sunshine Coast and put on the pounds for the bout, but even this wasn’t enough.

“On the Friday at weigh-in I was looking around for him and couldn’t see him anywhere,” Taylor said.

Brett 'Jakamarra' Taylor in his fight-day hoodie. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin.

Brett 'Jakamarra' Taylor hitting the bags during a training session. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin.

“Then once I’d hopped off the scales the promoter came up to me and apologised and said old mate was a no-show.

“So immediately I was fuming, but honestly (I) expected nothing less.

“I was then informed that since he was a no-show for a fourth time against me, yet had a couple of fights in between, that he would be stripped of his belt effective immediately and I’d be crowned as the new WBF Middleweight Masters World Champion.”

Stoked with the new crown but deflated that all his hard work was going to go to waste, Taylor was asked if he wanted to hop in the ring with Mark “Chopper” Burgess.

Now, Burgess isn’t just your regular run of the mill Masters fighter.

He has a resume that’d make most people want to run in the other direction, with a list that includes, WBF Masters Light Heavyweight (88kg) World Champion, three-time Aussie Heavyweight Champion, S & C for Qld Reds, Broncos, Warriors and Storm, and the ex-protection officer of former Qld Premier Peter Beattie, to name a few.

Brett 'Jakamarra' Taylor is the NT's first boxing World Champion, taking out the Masters WBF Super-Middleweight belt in March, 2024. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin.

But to Taylor’s credit, he said ‘why not’, and hopped in the ring with the champion, who was two divisions heavier than himself.

Unlike the regular six-round affair, the judges decided to declare the match a three-round contest due to its impromptu nature.

Taylor and Burgess ended up going the distance and the fight was called a draw, much to the amazement of Taylor.

“In all my years that was the toughest and best fight I’ve ever had,” he said.

“It’s given me the hunger to keep going until I physically can’t pull on the gloves.”

Taylor has now shifted his attention to the upcoming Pan Pacific Games in November later this year.

He’s already started his training and believes he’s got the goods to have three fights in three days and take home the gold.