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Shannon O'Connell (born 20 January 1983), nicknamed Shotgun Shannon is an Australian professional boxer who held the WBF female featherweight world title in 2013 and is known as The Queen of Australian Boxing.[1] As of September, 2022 she is the mandatory challenger for the IBF bantamweight world championship,[2] number 1 ranked contender for the WBA and IBO bantamweight world championships, and is currently the number 3 ranked women's bantamweight in the world by Boxrec.[3]

Shannon O'Connell
O'Connell in 2022
Statistics
Nickname(s)	Shotgun, The Queen of Australian Boxing
Weight(s)	Super Bantamweight
Height	165 cm (5 ft 5 in)
Nationality	Australian
Born	(1983-01-20) 20 January 1983 (age 39) Adelaide, Australia
Boxing record
Total fights	30
Wins	23
Wins by KO	11
Losses	6
Draws	1

She is managed by Glen Jennings (Tim Tszyu, Nikita Tszyu, Kostya Tszyu) and No Limit Boxing.[4]

Early life

O'Connell was born on 20 January, 1983 in Adelaide, South Australia. At the age of 2 her father Kevin O'Connell passed away in a speedway accident. As a result of the loss of her father, her mother Lynda became deeply troubled and much of Shannon's early life was marred by abuse and drug-use. She took up boxing at the age of 20 to rehabilitate a back injury she suffered playing netball. Her first coach was Terry Fox, an Adelaide boxer from the 1970s that competed in speedway competitions against her father.[5]

Amateur career

O'Connell had a successful amateur career winning a national championship in her fifth fight. After a tournament in Tonga she met Brisbane trainer Chris McCullen, notably a trainer of former world champion Anthony Mundine and was persuaded to relocate to Queensland to continue her career.[5]

Professional career

O'Connell made her professional debut on 15 Dec, 2011 winning by Technical Knockout in round 3. In her second fight she fought for the Queensland state female bantamweight title and lost. After winning her next six fights (including the Queensland state female featherweight title) O'Connell fought South Korean Choi Hyun-mi for the WBA world female featherweight title, losing by unanimous decision to the hometown fighter in Seoul, South Korea. [3]

On 29 June, 2013 O'Connell travelled to Secunda South Africa, to face Gabisile Tshabalala for the vacant WBF female featherweight title. O'Connell won the fight via seventh round knockout winning her first world championship in just her 10th fight before stepping up in weight to take on the bigger and more experienced Diana Prazak for the WBC female super featherweight title. O'Connell lost the fight by 5th round TKO.[3]

On 6 July, 2014, O'Connell won the vacant WIBA world super bantamweight title over Brownyn Wilie by unanimous decision.[3]

On 16 Jun, 2017, O'Connell travelled to Argentina to take on experienced veteran Marcela Acuña for the IBF world female super bantamweight title. She lost by unanimous decision to the hometown fighter.[3]

O'Connell has experienced a career resurgence in recent times and is currently on an 8 fight win streak as of September 2022, including wins over former Commonwealth Games medalist Taylah Robertson and current world champion Cherneka Johnson both in 2021. In December 2021 she was named "Female Fighter of the Year" by The Inner Sanctum.[1] As of September, 2022 O'Connell multiple titles including the Commonwealth Boxing Council Bantamweight Title and WBA Gold World Bantamweight Title.

In 2022 O'Connell was forced to undergo shoulder surgery that threatened her career. After undergoing surgery two times she returned to action in June against Sarah Higginson, with O'Connell winning by first round knockout. In July 2022 she was named the mandatory challenger for the IBF world bantamweight title, held by fellow Australian Ebanie Bridges. On August 25, 2022, the IBF declined Bridges' request to delay the fight and ordered Bridges' promoter Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing to enter negotiations with O'Connell's Australian promoter No Limit Boxing to schedule a date for the fight. The two parties were unable to negotiate terms by September and as a result the fight was sent to purse bids which was won by Matchroom Boxing. [2]

Personal life

O'Connell has three children and resides in Slacks Creek, south of Brisbane, Queensland. She was named the 2021 City of Logan "Sportswoman of the Year" and founded a gym in Slacks Creek named Shotgun Boxing and Fitness.[6]

Professional boxing record

30 fights	23 wins	6 losses
By knockout	11	2
By decision	12	4
Draws	1

No.	Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round, time	Date	Location	Notes
30	Win	23-6-1	Sarah Higginson	TKO	1 (6) 1:41	29 Jun, 2022	Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
29	Win	22-6-1	Taylah Robertson	SD	10 (10)	23 Oct, 2021	Gold Coast Convention Centre, Broadbeach, Queensland, Australia	For Commonwealth Boxing Council Bantamweight Title
28	Win	21-6-1	Cherneka Johnson	SD	10 (10)	13 Mar, 2021	Bendigo Stadium, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia	For Vacant WBA Gold World Bantamweight Title
27	Win	20-6-1	Kori Farr	UD	10 (10)	3 Dec, 2020	Fortitude Music Hall, Fortitude Valley, Queensland, Australia	For Vacant Commonwealth Boxing Council Bantamweight Title
26	Win	19-6-1	Kylie Fulmer	TKO	7 (8) 0:29	26 Aug, 2020	Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville, Queensland, Australia	For Vacant Australian Super Bantamweight Title
25	Win	18-6-1	Bianca Elmir	SD	6 (6)	31 Aug, 2019	Bendigo Stadium, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia
24	Win	17-6-1	Febriyanti Lubis	TKO	3 (6) 0:17	30 Mar, 2019	Fortitude Stadium, Newstead, Queensland, Australia
23	Win	16-6-1	Sumalee Tongpootorn	KO	1 (6) 1:40	13 Dec, 2017	Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
22	Loss	15-6-1	Helen Joseph	KO	2 (8) 0:55	29 Jul, 2017	The Famous Fortitude Gym , Newstead, Queensland, Australia
21	Loss	15-5-1	Marcela Eliana Acuña	UD	10 (10)	16 Jun, 2017	Ce.De.M. N° 2, Caseros, Buenos Aires, Argentina	IBF World female super bantamweight title
20	Win	15-4-1	Laura Soledad Griffa	UD	8 (8)	10 Dec, 2016	Spark Arena, Auckland, New Zealand	WBO Asia Pacific Super Bantamweight Title
19	Win	14-4-1	Edina Kiss	UD	10 (10)	21 Oct, 2016	Sleeman Sports Complex, Chandler, Queensland, Australia	WBC Silver female super bantamweight title
18	Win	13-4-1	Kimika Miyoshi	UD	10 (10)	13 Aug, 2016	Melbourne Park Function Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia	WBC Silver female super bantamweight title
17	Win	12-4-1	Tanwarat Saengiamjit	KO	6 (10) 00:57	9 Apr, 2016	Warrnambool Stadium, Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia	vacant WBC Silver female super bantamweight title
16	Draw	11–4–1	Dayana Cordero	TD	3 (10)	21 Nov 2015	Bendigo Stadium, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia	For vacant WBC female silver featherweight title
15	Loss	11–4	Sandy Tsagouris	UD	8	11 Sep 2015	Ricoh Coliseum, Toronto, Canada
14	Win	11–3	Saranphat Sirisot	TKO	1 (6), 1:46	13 Jun 2015	Fortitude Stadium, Newstead, Queensland, Australia
13	Win	10–3	Bronwyn Wylie	UD	10	6 Jul 2014	Grand Star Receptions, Altona North, Victoria, Australia	Won vacant WIBA World super bantamweight title
12	Win	9–3	Gentiane Lupi	MD	6	17 May 2014	PCYC, Nerang, Queensland, Australia
11	Loss	8–3	Diana Prazak	TKO	5 (10), 1:56	1 Mar 2014	The Melbourne Pavilion, Flemington, Victoria, Australia	For WBC World female super featherweight title
10	Win	8–2	Gabisile Tshabalala	KO	7 (10), 0:36	29 Jun 2013	Graceland Hotel Casino, Secunda, South Africa	Won vacant WBF female featherweight title
9	Loss	7–2	Choi Hyun-mi	UD	10	8 May 2013	KBS Sports World, Seoul, South Korea	For WBA World female featherweight title
8	Win	7–1	Narelle Leahey	UD	6	4 Apr 2013	Southport RSL Club, Southport, Queensland, Australia	Won vacant Australia - Queensland State female featherweight title
7	Win	6–1	Pimchanok Ruamwong	TKO	3 (6), 0:36	24 Oct 2012	South Sydney Junior Rugby League Club, Kingsford, New South Wales, Australia
6	Win	5–1	Naruemol Ubuabon	UD	8	24 Aug 2012	Mansfield Tavern, Mansfield, Queensland, Australia
5	Win	4–1	Michelle Preston	UD	6	29 Jun 2012	ABA Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand
4	Win	3–1	Chuthaporn Pradissan	TKO	5 (6), 1:54	3 Jun 2012	Mansfield Tavern, Mansfield, Queensland, Australia
3	Win	2–1	Pimchanok Ruamwong	TKO	3 (6), 0:30	24 Mar 2012	Irish Club Hotel, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia
2	Loss	1–1	Sara George	UD	6	2 Mar 2012	Mansfield Tavern, Mansfield, Queensland, Australia	For vacant Australia - Queensland State female bantamweight title
1	Win	1–0	Kelly O'Doherty	TKO	3 (6), 0:58	15 Dec 2011	Gambaro's Restaurant and Function Centre, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

References

External links

• Shannon O'Connell on Twitter
• Boxing record for Shannon O'Connell from BoxRec (registration required)

Sporting positions
Regional boxing titles
Vacant Title last held by Sarah O'Connell	Australia - Queensland State female featherweight champion 4 April 2013 – May 2013 Fought for world title	Vacant Title next held by Rebecca Hawker
Vacant Title last held by Goda Dailydaite	WBF female featherweight champion 29 June 2013 – August 2013 Fought for world title	Vacant Title next held by Ina Menzer
Vacant Title last held by Jessica Rakoczy	WIBA super-bantamweight champion 6 July 2014 – 2015	Vacant Title next held by Gentiane Lupi

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