Boxing news: No Limit promoter George Rose on Voice referendum, Tim Tszyu vs. Brian Mendoza, Shanell Dargan vs. Amber Amelia

It’s a big weekend for George Rose, with Tim Tszyu defending his world title, a new Australian title featuring the Indigenous flag and what he hopes is a win for the Yes vote.

It’s a big weekend for boxing promoter George Rose, with Tim Tszyu defending his WBO super welterweight world title against Brian Mendoza on Sunday and the Voice referendum on Saturday.

Sunday’s card also sees Rose’s No Limit promotions staging a bout between Shanell Dargan and Amber Amelia, who will become the first two female boxers to fight for the new Australian titles which feature the Indigenous flag.

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The Australian National Boxing Federation voted last year to add the Indigenous flag to its national titles, and the changes have come into effect over the past two months.

Dargan and Amelia will fight for the vacant super-bantamweight title on the undercard to Tszyu’s world title showdown.

“Given the history of Aboriginal boxers in Australia – some of our greatest boxers of all time are Aboriginal people,” Rose told this masthead. “The boxing ring has always been a place where Aboriginal people have had an opportunity to thrive and showcase their talent.”

No Limit promoter George Rose says boxing has always been a place for Indigenous Australians to showcase their talent, ahead of a packed card following the Voice referendum. Picture: Zain Mohammed/No Limit Boxing.

Dargan, a Wiradjuri and Mununjali woman, found strength in boxing as she went through depression, and has been in some of the most action-packed fights of the last few years, including her debut against Ashleigh Sims last year.

“We’ll be the first female fighters and first two Indigenous fighters to fight for that belt,” Dargan told this masthead of her fight with Amelia.

“It’s a great opportunity and it makes it that much sweeter for me when I win it.”

Dargan’s historic Australian title fight on the No Limit promoted card will come just one day after the Voice referendum.

“It means a lot to my family, it means a lot to a lot of my people and I feel like it’s the right thing,” Rose said. “I put my Yes vote in earlier this week and I’m hoping the rest of Australia does too.

“When you give someone the opportunity to showcase what they’re capable of, when you don’t shackle them or hold them back from what they can be, anything is possible.”

Shanell Dargan and Amber Amelia will become the first two boxers to fight for an Australian title that features the Indigenous flag. Picture: Zain Mohammed/No Limit Boxing.

Dargan is hoping the referendum is the start of broader change.

“I’m hoping this can be an opportunity for the rest of Australia to come together for something good,” she said. “It’s a change for generations to come.

“If we say Yes, it’s an opportunity for the better, if it’s a No, nothing will change. Hopefully this is a time in history that I can look back and say, ‘I helped achieve that’.”

The Yes campaign even gained support from world champion boxer, Mario Barrios. The WBC interim welterweight world champion, who is in Australia to support his mate Mendoza, has Mexican and Native American blood and is a passionate campaigner for Indigenous rights around the world.

Barrios was eager to learn more about the Voice, and offered his support for the Voice and for Dargan.

“Those are my groups, and I try and speak up as much as I can for Indigenous people,” he told this masthead. “I support it, I believe Indigenous people should absolutely have a voice when it comes to office, government and political powers.

“It’s awesome for her to be representing her roots and having this fight. She was showing me the Indigenous flag on the belt, which is awesome. I love to see it.”

Originally published as Boxing news: No Limit promoter George Rose on Voice referendum, Tim Tszyu vs. Brian Mendoza, Shanell Dargan vs. Amber Amelia