THE homecoming is locked in for rising middleweight contender Dylan “The Beaudesert Storm” Biggs against unbeaten Turkish prospect Kenan Guzel at Ipswich Turf Club on August 30.
The 23-year-old will be pitted against the undefeated Guzel, with an IBF regional title at stake in what shapes as one of the biggest boxing events staged in Ipswich in recent years.
Promoter Brendon “Smithy” Smith, from TGW & Smithy’s Promotions, said the event had been built around bringing one of Queensland’s brightest boxing talents back to fight in front of his home supporters.
“We’ve created this as Dylan’s homecoming to make it special for the public and special for Dylan,” Smith said.
“He’s been super keen to fight close to his home team.”
Smith said the undercard would also deliver plenty of local flavour, featuring competitive match-ups and some of South East Queensland’s best emerging talent.
Smith said fans could expect a family-friendly afternoon of boxing, with gates opening at 10am, the first bout beginning at 11am and the event wrapping up by about 3pm.
“They can expect a great Sunday fun day,” he said.
“We’ve catered for families. Tickets start from just $15 for kids and $49 general admission, with ringside seats at $150.”
While Biggs enters as one of Australia’s hottest middleweight prospects, Smith warned that Guzel would provide one of the toughest tests of his career.
“He’s got a big fight in front of him. This is a fight he has to be very careful in,” Smith said.
Biggs’ journey has seen him grow from humble beginnings in Beaudesert to becoming one of Australia’s brightest middleweight prospects.
“I’m from a small town. We had no money backing us,” he said.
“I just grinded my way through. I was a hardworking kid who stayed with it when others didn’t.”
Just as importantly, Biggs has never wavered from the team that helped shape him, with coach Justin O’Leary by his side since he first walked into Beaudesert Boxing Club as a 10-year-old.
“I’ve always thought you’ve got to have ultimate trust in your corner because you’re putting your life in their hands,” Biggs said.
O’Leary said Biggs’ loyalty reflected the character that had underpinned his rise through the professional ranks.
Biggs’ lone professional defeat came against Nikita Tszyu, a loss the 23-year-old now credits with changing the trajectory of his career.
“I was very unprofessional with some things. I was fighting too light and wasn’t doing all the little things properly.”
O’Leary believes the setback ultimately made his fighter stronger.
“He’s had his ups and downs in boxing and in life … he’s not going to chuck his toys out of the cot,” he said.
Tickets are available through Eventbrite.
