Shanell Dargan: “Boxing really did save my life.”

Shanell Dargan: “Boxing really did save my life.”

Shanell Dargan had a beyond-tough early life. She dreamed of a singing career and appeared on the Australian X Factor. But now, after fighting many things in her life, Dargan is a professional boxer and wants to become a world champion.

Dargan will have fight number ten later this month when she takes on the unbeaten Thailand prospect Kanokwan Wirunpat at the Grand Vaudeville, Condell Park.

“Training camp has been great,” Dargan told me. “I’ve just recently moved to the No Quarter Boxing Gym under the guidance of my new coach, Anton Shalom. I travel an hour each way to the gym from my home, but it’s worth it.

“I’ve been with Anton for about seven weeks now, and I am just trying to add certain aspects to my game. Learning and unlearning things has been challenging. But I’m really enjoying the process. I’m ready, and I can’t wait to get in the squared circle again.”

Kanokwan Wirunpat is unbeaten in three professional fights. But Wirunpat also has an extensive combat sports background.

“She comes from a Muay-Thai background,” Dargan relayed to me. “She’s had over fifty fights, and most of them were wins. She is also undefeated in the pros, and all her wins have come inside the distance. So I know she’s going to be tough and she is definitely coming to Australia to win. I love challenges, and I can’t wait to take on this one.”

If Dargan inflicts the first blemish on the resume of her opponent, it could open the door for some major fights down the road, including one with a former world champion.

“I will be fighting for the WBC Gold Australasian title, and it will hopefully get me in the world rankings. Which could open up potential big fights in the future. I will then hopefully be back in there as soon as possible and have a very active year.

“At the moment I’m just focused on this fight. But there’s been talks of a big fight with Shannon O’Connell in the very near future. Which would be a cracker of a fight.”

Dargan had a difficult start to her life. Addictions savaged the family home.

“Both my parents have been in and out of prison since I was born,” Dargan says of those early years. “Both were addicted to different substances, so they are unable to look after me. My nan fostered me and my cousins. And wouldn’t be where I am without her. It’s been tough not having my parents around much but it’s made me stronger and made me want to make something of myself and to never make the same mistakes my parents did and be a loving devoted mother that my son can look up to one day.”

Boxing has saved many. While it can take so much, it can give a whole lot more. Shanell Dargan is another who firmly believes boxing has made her.

“I got into boxing in 2019, a year after my son was born. I had always been athletic. I played rugby league and touch footy, but I needed something to help me both physically and mentally. After going through a domestic violent relationship, my mental health wasn’t the best. After leaving that relationship. I walked into Campbelltown PCYC and never looked back. I know it sounds cliche, but boxing really did save my life.

“Boxing is an escape for me in many ways. Nothing else matters when you’re in the ring. It gives me confidence and allows me at times to be able to express myself in a safe environment. It’s the hardest sport in the world. It’s a lifestyle and a way of life, and it’s given life a new meaning for me.”

Boxing wasn’t her first love. But it’s now her fists that could propel her life to another stratosphere. But there was a time when it was her voice that was the perceived gateway to stardom. An appearance on the 2014 version of the Australian X Factor was her first attempt at becoming a star.

“I started singing when I was about six years old,” Dargan told me. “It was my dream at that point to become an international recording artist. I made it to the top twenty-four in X Factor, and I was able to go to New York and perform in front of John Legend, which was amazing. I felt that being on stage for singing actually helped me in the ring.”

But Dargan has found her home in boxing. A sport that she states has saved her. But equally, it can be an unforgiving sport at times.

“The hardest part is that it’s a lifestyle,” Dargan says. “There’s no seasons like there is in football. You’re training day-in-day-out no matter what. Putting your body through hell day in and out, and a lot of the times you don’t get paid nearly enough for what we do.”

Shanell Dargan has overcome so much in her life. A winner in every way imaginable. But at 31, she is now on the march for history.

“I really have big dreams,” Dargan says of her lofty ambitions. “I would love to become the first Aboriginal female world champion. We have had many Aboriginal male world champions but never a female. So that is what I would love to become.”