Australia’s boxing queen Shannon O’Connell to make history by fighting on same card as teenage son

It’s why, 14 years after turning pro, O’Connell will feel complete when she makes Australian boxing history by fighting alongside her rising star son Cooper on the same card on Saturday night.

On a historic night for the sport, 19-year-old Cooper (2-0) will face PNG’s Lui Magaiva, before his ageless mum Shannon (25-8-1), 42, takes on Jaki Toth (3-3) in the main event at Brisbane’s Mansfield Tavern.

‘Shotgun’ Shannon’s decorated career appeared to be over two years ago when she underwent a shoulder replacement after virtually fighting one-handed in her world-title loss to fellow Australian Ebanie Bridges in December 2022.

But Australian boxing’s matriarch has soldiered on long enough to join forces with her son, a classy southpaw who will uphold the O’Connell legacy in the quest to emulate his mum and conquer the world.

“It’s a pretty special moment,” said the O’Connell clan’s trainer Gareth Williams.

“We’ve never seen a mother and son fight before on the same card and it will be a long time before it ever happens again.

“Shannon is the ultimate warrior and her son is an exceptional talent.

“Having his mum as a fighter since his birth, boxing is in Cooper’s blood.”

The evidence came last November when Cooper won the gold medal at the under-19s World Youth Championships, becoming just the third Aussie after Clay Waterman and Justis Huni to achieve the feat.

The stylish super lightweight made his pro debut on the undercard of Tim Tszyu’s defeat of Joey Spencer in April and is rated one of Australia’s hottest boxing prospects.

“Cooper can have a very good career as a pro,” Williams said.

“We’re taking it slow. He is a teenager and he will develop his man strength as he gets older.

“Cooper is a thinker and he controls the pace of fights well. He was known as a back-foot boxer as an amateur but he is learning to fight on the front-foot strategically.

“He is a very wise boxer who is ahead of his years.”

Shannon is one of the sport’s great survivors.

She was just two when her father Kevin died in a speedway accident. Amid the trauma, which included her mum’s suicide attempt, she endured drug abuse in her battle to cope with the grief.

But O’Connell, now a stoic single mother of three, rebuilt her life, fixed her shoulder, and is primed for one final shot at world-title glory.

“It’s a credit to Jaki to take the fight,” O’Connell said on the eve of her 35th pro bout.

“A lot of the other girls around Australia mention my name in front of the cameras but they don’t want to fight me.

“I am still here and very willing, I really hope this is the start of my last big shot at a world title.”

Williams believes Shotgun can fire into her mid-40s.

“Shannon is one of the toughest fighters I have seen, male or female,” Williams said.

“Even at age 42, others are dropping off, but Shannon is as fit as she was in her 20s.

“It’s madness. She is still so hungry.

“Shannon has had a wild and tough life and it’s a credit to her resilience where she is today, still boxing at a high level and juggling work with raising three kids.

“If she finished tomorrow or in five years, it’s been an amazing boxing story.”