Dana Coolwell, Taylah Robertson and more rated Coast’s best boxers

The Sunshine Coast is blessed with some incredibly talented boxers. We’ve revealed which knockout artists are the ones to watch as they carve out careers. FULL LIST:

Top 10 of the best Sunshine Coast boxing talents

Boxing has quickly become a thriving sport on the Sunshine Coast with an array of talents proving why they’re not to be messed with inside the ring.

In no particular order we’ve taken a look at the top Sunshine Coast boxers and which ones you should keep an eye on in 2022.

Dana Coolwell

Beerwah boxer Dana Coolwell (right) pictured with coach Stephan Pitt after winning the Australian Super-Featherweight title. Photo: Patrick Woods.

Dana ‘Deadly’ Coolwell burst onto the professional scene in 2019 before being crowned the Australian super featherweight champion with an upset defeat over Miles Zalewski in 2021.

The 22-year-old former Beerwah Bulldogs rugby league junior began boxing at the Hinterland Boxing Club when he was 13.

After recording his seventh professional win under the tutelage of Stephen Pitt Coolwell now has his sights set on becoming World Champion.

Luke Martin

Sunshine Coast boxer Luke Martin (right) is set to fight for the Australasian Super Bantamweight title on March 19.

At 24 Luke ‘Mad Dog’ Martin has been in the ring since he was 13 and is set to fight for the Australasian Super Bantamweight title on March 19.

Luke’s coach, Mark Evans, said his aggressive style makes him extremely hard to compete with over a number of rounds.

“He never takes a backwards step and I’d say his rear hand counterpunch is definitely one of his biggest strengths,” he said.

Taylah Robertson

Australia's Taylah Robertson (right) with her bronze medal after the Women's Flyweight final at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast, Australia.

With five Australian titles, a Commonwealth Games bronze medal and a swag of medals in international tournaments, Robertson’s presence in the ring is unmatched.

After starting fighting aged 11 Robertson became the youngest female to represent Australia in boxing at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

The former Cooroy boxer now trains under well respected boxing coach Glenn Azar and said her ambition is to be the undisputed champion of the world in her weight division.

Ben Cameron-Hands

Sunshine Coast boxer Ben ‘Casper’ Cameron-Hands chalked up 90 amateur fights before making his professional debut on June 19, 2021.

Cameron-Hands’ first round TKO win was followed by another TKO in his second fight against Queenslander Dennis Ryan.

Coach Mark Evans said after taking three years away from the sport it had been great to see Cameron-Hands back in the gym.

“He had a good break away from boxing by running around and socialising as you should when you’re in your teens but he’s back now which is good to see,” Evans said.

“He's put in a lot of hard work over the past few months and is boxing really well so it’s exciting to see what’s next.”

Sam Cameron Hands

Sam 'The Surgeon' Cameron-Hands all smiles at his professional boxing debut. Picture: The Boxing Shop

Similar to his younger brother Ben, it took Sam “The Surgeon” Cameron-Hands less than 30 seconds to win his professional debut fight.

As a junior, Cameron-Hands was crowned Australian champion in 2015, was Queensland champion six times and National Golden Gloves champion four times.

He said making his professional debut was a memorable milestone.

“Making my professional debut had been a long-term goal of mine and it was a massive thing for me to be able to tick off,” he said.

“The overall experience was amazing, the atmosphere was huge and I honestly can’t wait to do it again.”

Ella Boot

After only stepping into the ring in 2015, Cooroy’s Ella ‘Bullets” Boot was quick to make a name for herself winning gold at the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games.

Boot also claimed bronze at the women's youth world championships in India before making her professional debut on the No Limit Australia Boxing card between Paul Gallen and Darcy Lussick.

“Outside of the ring she is all smiley and cute and adorable but inside the ring she sort of hits beast-mode and is very strong, quite aggressive and just has that will to win,” her former coach Mark Evans said following her Commonwealth Youth Games triumph.

Liam Pope

Boxer Liam Pope poses for a photograph at All Star Boxing, Bray Park, Saturday, December 15, 2018 (AAP Image/Richard Walker)

Training and sparring partner of Dana Coolwell, Pope’s next fight is set for late-February when he will fight for the Australian title.

Pope has been boxing since he was 13 and his coach Stephan Pitt said he had high expectations for the now 26-year-old.

“He is one of the hardest workers I’ve ever met and that’s just from his pure dedication and mindset,” Pitt said.

“In the ring he’s very competitive, has got a very high work rate and really isn’t afraid to throw caution into the wind.”

Keiran Whitehead

After dishing out a first-round knockout blow in his professional debut last year, Whitehead will take his talents overseas on March 5 against a fighter from Papua New Guinea.

Following a promising junior career Whitehead’s coach Mark Evans said the 21-year-old was in good stead to continue moving through the grades.

“He’s quite evasive and a very good technical boxer,” Evans said.

“His best trait is the power he possesses in both of his hands which makes him hard to stop.”

Bryce Hegarty

An up and coming Sunshine Coast boxer who is set to make his professional debut in April, 2022.

Off the back of a ‘stellar’ amateur career Hegarty’s coach Mark Evans had high hopes for his success this year.

“He’s been fighting for a while now and is another very technical boxer with a long reach,” Evans said.

“He is very good at boxing from the outside and absolutely loves a powerful body shot.”

Craig Hill Jnr

Craig Hill Jnr training back in 2013. Photo: Warren Lynam / Sunshine Coast Daily

After receiving high praise from boxing legend Jeff Fenech and coming through as one of the nation’s most promising young fighters, Hill Junior’s life took a downward spiral.

Following an unbeaten record of 10 professional wins, a Queensland super welterweight title and being in the running for the Australian super welterweight title, the Caloundra boxer went off the radar for several years.

Now the 33-year-old is poised for a remarkable return to the ring.

Originally published as Dana Coolwell, Taylah Robertson and more rated Coast’s best boxers