Shannon O'Connell

Shannon O'Connell (born 20 January 1983) is an Australian professional boxer who has held the WBF female featherweight title, the WIBA super-bantamweight title and the Commonwealth female bantamweight title.

Early life O'Connell was born on 20 January 1983 in Adelaide, South Australia. At the age of two her father Kevin O'Connell died 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.

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.

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. She was named "Female Fighter of the Year" at The Inner Sanctum's 2021 Australian boxing awards.

In July 2022 she was named the mandatory challenger for the IBF world bantamweight title, held by fellow Australian Ebanie Bridges. The boxers met at First Direct Arena, Leeds, England on 10 December 2022 with Bridges retaining her title by stopping O'Connell in round eight.

On 4 October 2024, O'Connell was stopped in round four of a scheduled eight round contest against Mea Motu at The Star in Sydney, Australia.

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.

Professional boxing record