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.
Professional career O'Connell made her professional debut on 15 Dec 2011 winning by Technical knockout in round 3. In her second fight she fought for the Queensland state female bantamweight title and lost. After winning her next six fights (including the Queensland state female featherweight title) O'Connell fought South Korean Choi Hyun-mi for the WBA world female featherweight title, losing by unanimous decision to the hometown fighter in Seoul, South Korea.
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.
On 6 July 2014, O'Connell won the vacant WIBA world super bantamweight title over Brownyn Wilie by unanimous decision.
On 16 June 2017, O'Connell travelled to Argentina to take on experienced veteran Marcela Acuña for the IBF world female super bantamweight title. She lost by unanimous decision to the hometown fighter.
O'Connell defeated Kori Farr by unanimous decision to win the vacant Commonwealth female bantamweight title on 3 December 2020. 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
ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes35Win26–8–1 Jaki TothTKO2 (8)9 Aug 202534Win25–8–1 Jasmine ParrSD813 Dec 202433Loss24–8–1 Mea MotuTKO4 (8) 4 Oct 202432Win24–7–1 Siriphon Chanbuala2 (6) 0:5211 May 202431Loss23–7–1 Ebanie Bridges8 (10) 1:4510 Dec 202230Win23–6–1 Sarah Higginson1 (6) 1:4129 Jun 202229Win22–6–1 Taylah Robertson10 (10)23 Oct 202128Win21–6–1 Cherneka Johnson10 (10)13 Mar 202127Win20–6–1 Kori Farr10 (10)3 Dec 202026Win19–6–1 Kylie Fulmer7 (8) 0:2926 Aug 202025Win18–6–1 Bianca Elmir6 (6)31 Aug 201924Win17–6–1 Febriyanti Lubis3 (6) 0:1730 Mar 201923Win16–6–1 Sumalee Tongpootorn1 (6) 1:4013 Dec 201722Loss15–6–1 Helen Joseph2 (8) 0:5529 Jul 201721Loss15–5–1 Marcela Eliana AcuñaUD10 (10)16 Jun 2017IBF World female super bantamweight title 20Win15–4–1 Laura Soledad GriffaUD8 (8)10 Dec 2016WBO Asia Pacific Super Bantamweight Title19Win14–4–1 Edina KissUD10 (10)21 Oct 2016WBC Silver female super bantamweight title 18Win13–4–1 Kimika MiyoshiUD10 (10) 13 Aug 2016WBC Silver female super bantamweight title 17Win12–4–1 Tanwarat SaengiamjitKO6 (10) 00:579 Apr 2016vacant WBC Silver female super bantamweight title16Draw11–4–1 Dayana Cordero3 (10)21 November 201515Loss11–4 Sandy TsagourisUD811 September 201514Win11–3 Saranphat SirisotTKO1 (6), 13 June 201513Win10–3 Bronwyn WylieUD106 July 201412Win9–3 Gentiane Lupi617 May 201411Loss8–3 Diana PrazakTKO5 (10), 1 March 201410Win8–2 Gabisile Tshabalala7 (10), 29 June 20139Loss7–2 Choi Hyun-miUD108 May 20138Win7–1 Narelle LeaheyUD64 April 20137Win6–1 Pimchanok RuamwongTKO3 (6), 24 October 20126Win5–1 Naruemol UbuabonUD824 August 20125Win4–1 Michelle PrestonUD629 June 20124Win3–1 Chuthaporn PradissanTKO5 (6), 3 June 20123Win2–1 Pimchanok RuamwongTKO3 (6), 24 March 20122Loss1–1 Sara George62 March 20121Win1–0 Kelly O'Doherty3 (6), 15 December 2011
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