Alex Winwood 2024 NAIDOC Sports Person of the Year

FISH celebrates Professional boxer Alex Winwood awarded the 2024 NAIDOC Sports Person of the Year,?recognised for his outstanding amateur boxing career, and rise to be one of the top ranked professional boxers in the world.

Alex is a proud Noongar man, born in Goomburrup (Bunbury) WA. He has represented Australia at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games and has taken part in multiple world championships.

Nine months on from his 2022 professional debut, Winwood carries a 4-0 record in the minimum weight boxing division putting him on track to becoming the fastest Australian man to achieve the title of world champion.

An incredible journey for a young man who started boxing at the age of 16 to keep fit in his Aussie Rules Footy off season, training in a small tin shed in his coach's backyard.

As well as being an exemplary sportsperson, Alex has become a role model for his community, often collaborating with local schools to inspire students to pursue their interests. Alex’s deep connection to culture, and pride in his heritage shows through in everything he does.

Growing up Alex idolised former professional boxers Anthony Mundine and Lionel Rose and now wants to inspire the younger people in his community too.

"I was a kid that was kind of not on the best path and I had some great mentors coming into my life, and I see the huge value in it. I just want the young ones to have a chance at life and pursue their goals and dreams."

Currently ranked second in the world by the World Boxing Council, fifth by the International Boxing Federation, and eighth by the World Boxing Organisation.

Alex is staring down Australian boxing history, having locked in a world title bout, set to take place Saturday, 7 September, at Perth's HBF Stadium.

In a bid to smash Jeff Fenech's seven-fight record to a world title set in 1985, Alex will be fighting Thai Thammanoon Niyomtrong - AKA “Knockout CP Freshmart”, for the WBA minimum weight super title belt.

This will be the first time a WA talent has fought a title fight in their home state since Danny Green's over a decade ago.

It will be no easy feat. Alex’s opponent Niyomtrong boasts a 24-fight undefeated record and has successfully defended his title 11 times since claiming it in 2016 in the longest title reign in boxing.

Ahead of his next bout, with the potential to be the toughest of his career, the 27-year-old said, "this is just the start of my legacy in boxing, one that I hope Australia can be proud of and inspire the next generation of boxers".

Former AFL player and Paradigm Entertainment director Des Headland, broke the news of the title fight to Winwood with trainer Angelo Hyder and WA Premier Roger Cook.

Win / lose we are immensely proud of Alex and the legacy he is creating both in the sport of boxing and with Aboriginal youth. We are sure every Noongar across Southwest WA and person in Boorloo (Perth), will be right behind him every step of the way.?