Allan Hazle has once again proven his champion spirit by defending his WBF Masters Amateur World Title in Townsville. After winning the title in Germany on October 2024, Allan successfully retained it on home soil in February, surrounded by family and friends who travelled from Mount Isa and Brisbane to cheer him on.
Allan’s love for fighting started at a young age in Mount Isa. Inspired by Bruce Lee movies and following his older brother William into martial arts, he eventually discovered Devils Boxing Club, where he fought his first amateur match and was hooked.
“To be honest, I wasn’t much good at martial arts or kickboxing, but when I found boxing, everything just clicked.
“Winning the title in Germany still doesn’t feel real. I never imagined I’d compete at this level.”
Training and competing from Mount Isa hasn’t been easy, yet Allan has never let that hold him back.
“Distance is the main barrier, but Mount Isa has some of the best fighters in Queensland. I had very good sparring for my last two matches with locals who really took it to me and forced me to level up my game.”
Allan’s routine is intense, with two sessions each day, blending strength and conditioning with sparring and technical skills.
“I have to stay consistent. It’s not just about training hard; it’s about training smart and being disciplined.”
Allan draws inspiration from boxing legends like Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns, Roberto Duran, Mike Tyson, Floyd Mayweather and Arturo Gatti. Their influence shaped his style and mindset in the ring.
His defending fight against Joel Herlihy was one of his most exciting, a boxer whose journey Allan had followed closely.
“I was pumped. Joel has been on an absolute tear, taking out the Masters Fighter of the Year in 2024 and was recently inducted into the WBF Masters Hall of Fame. I knew I had to cut no corners and present the best version of myself.”
Allan’s drive to succeed isn’t just about boxing and his journey hasn’t been without setbacks.
In 2002, he was crushed by 1.4 tons of liner plate in a Sag mill. Doctors told him he would never run again, but he proved them wrong, losing weight from 100kg to 68kg and competing at 64kg. He even completed his first 21km run in April 2021 in just 1 hour and 48 minutes.
In 2006, a nerve injury left him without full use of his left arm, forcing him to switch to a southpaw stance. In 2013, a serious neck injury required surgery, and in 2022, he had two shoulder surgeries. Despite all this, Allan keeps pushing forward.
“I choose not to be a victim of circumstances. I choose to move and do what I love. If there is something I cannot do, I will find a workaround.
“While I absolutely love boxing, I use it as one of the many tools to keep my weight down and manage the pain in my back.
“I was on a serious amount of painkillers and truthfully, I was useless, basically a zombie. I chose to change my life.”
Representing Mount Isa on a global stage means everything to Allan.
“I really hope I can inspire our youths in Mount Isa to show them it doesn’t matter where we are from. If you really want it and choose dedication and consistency, you will get it.”
Looking to the future, Allan plans to get back in the ring as soon as he can. He dreams of travelling to the UK and Las Vegas for the WBF Masters tournament in 2026. At 53, Allan knows he needs to make the most of the time he has left in the sport.
“My time is limited, but I would love to defend the WBF title in Mount Isa and showcase our young, truly talented fighters, giving them some exposure.”
