SHANE’S STORY — PHOENIX BOXING CLUB

From the outside, it looks like a boxing gym. But this was never just about boxing.

Shane didn’t grow up with everything handed to him.

Raised in Claremont, Queensland, by a single mum alongside his sister, life was tough early. Money was tight. His dad wasn’t around. And like a lot of young boys in that situation, he could have gone in a lot of different directions.

At 11 years old, he walked into a boxing gym for the first time.

That moment changed everything.

Because boxing gave him something he had never truly felt before — purpose.

It wasn’t just about throwing punches. It was about belonging to something. It was about discipline. It was about having a reason to show up.

By 17, he had already won his first state title.

But life doesn’t move in straight lines.

At 19, Shane joined the Navy and stepped away from boxing. On paper, it looked like the right move. But deep down, something was missing.

By 22, he knew it.

He came back to boxing — not just as a sport, but as a lifeline.

From there, he built a career defined by grit and resilience:

• 27 wins, 6 losses as an amateur
• Australian Heavyweight Champion
• Years of learning from elite coaches
• A foundation of discipline forged through 8 years in the Navy

But the real legacy wasn’t going to be built in the ring.

It was going to be built through people.

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More Than a Fighter

After stepping away from competition at 29, Shane tried to leave boxing behind.

It didn’t last long.

Because boxing wasn’t just something he did. It was who he was.

He founded Raiders Boxing Club in Karratha — a not-for-profit gym that ran for 15 years.

Not for money. Not for recognition. But for people.

He coached fighters. Built pathways. Changed lives.

His proudest moments?

• Watching his son, Matty “Matrix” McDonald, win the National Golden Gloves
• Coaching Mitch Lederman to represent Australia on the world stage in Dubai
• Seeing legends, like Ryan Williams, step into title opportunities

But more than titles… it was the transformation in people that mattered most.

Confidence. Discipline. Direction.

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The Turning Point

In 2024, Shane moved to Perth with his family.

And for the first time, he made a decision:

It was time to go all in.

Not just another gym.

Not just another boxing space.

But something bigger.

With the support of his fiancée Sarah — who believed in the vision from day one — Phoenix Boxing Club was born.

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Why “Phoenix”?

Because this gym is built on what Shane knows best:

Starting again. Rebuilding. Rising.

Boxing gave him a way forward when things were uncertain.

Now, Phoenix exists to do the same for others.

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A Gym With a Mission

Phoenix Boxing Club isn’t just for fighters.

It’s for:

• The kid who needs direction
• The woman who wants confidence
• The fighter chasing a title
• The person searching for something more

Because what’s missing in most gyms isn’t equipment.

It’s purpose.

It’s pathways.

It’s community.

Shane is changing that.

As WA President of ANABA, he’s creating opportunities that haven’t existed before — giving amateur fighters real international pathways beyond the traditional system.

And this is just the beginning.

The long-term vision?

To build a platform where both amateur and professional fighters have real opportunities to grow, compete, and succeed.

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