Dana Coolwell once aspired to play in the NRL and took up boxing to improve his fitness, now the Queenslander who grew up idolizing Johnathan Thurston is set to box at world level on the Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul.
Dana Coolwell, a 25-year-old featherweight boxer from Beerwah, Queensland, is preparing for the biggest opportunity of his career.
Set to fight undefeated American Bruce ‘Shu Shu’ Carrington, Coolwell will take to the ring at the iconic AT&T Stadium in Texas on November 16 AEDT.
The event, headlined by Jake Paul and Mike Tyson, marks the first boxing exhibition broadcast live on Netflix, with an estimated audience of 550 million households worldwide.
“It’s life-changing,” Coolwell said.
“It will be one of the biggest events an Australian fighter has ever participated in. I am grateful for this opportunity and want to show my skills to the world.”
The venue, home of the Dallas Cowboys, will host more than 80,000 fans, a stark contrast to Coolwell’s last outing in March at the Caloundra RSL, where he claimed a victory before a crowd of 500.
Queensland Dana Coolwell grew up loving rugby league and took up boxing to stay fit
North Queensland Cowboys champion Johnathan Thurston was Coolwell’s idol
Now, Coolwell is ready to show the world his potential, thriving in an atmosphere where millions of eyes will be on him.
‘I imagine the crowd as I walk to the ring. “I think I will take advantage of the energy and rise to the occasion,” he said.
Coolwell’s journey to this point has been anything but typical. A former Beerwah Bulldogs rugby league player, he initially took up boxing at age 14 to stay fit, inspired by his NRL idols Johnathan Thurston and Matty Bowen.
That decision led him to coach Stephen Pitt, who saw something special in the young athlete.
“When he first trained at my gym, I thought it might have been a fluke,” Pitt recalled.
“But after dominating two sessions against an experienced boxer, I knew Dana was different.”
Under Pitt’s guidance, Coolwell’s career flourished. Despite setbacks, including two professional losses, Pitt believes these challenges shaped his fighter.
The Queensland fighter competed in front of just 500 people at the latest Caloundra RSL fight.
He will now face American wrestler Bruce Carrington in front of 80,000 people in Texas.
“Those losses made it harder. Dana’s grit and work ethic are unmatched. He has never missed a training session… not a single one.
The upcoming fight against Carrington is a significant step. Carrington, with a perfect record of 13-0, has earned a reputation as a technical and powerful fighter.
Still, Coolwell and Pitt are confident.
“People underestimate us because we’re from Australia,” Pitt said.
“But those who know Dana know she is capable of great things.”
Coolwell echoes his coach’s sentiments. “Even though it’s exciting, I stay calm and stick to my training.” “I won’t fully know the atmosphere until I’m in it, but I’m up for the challenge.”
Carrington, a rising star from Brooklyn, is equally motivated. Known for his technical precision and powerful knockouts, check out the Paul vs. Tyson as an opportunity to expand his fan base.
For Coolwell, this is more than a fight: it’s a chance to make his mark on the sport. “As a pure boxing fan, I’m rooting for Mike Tyson in the main event,” he said. “But regardless of who wins, boxing is the ultimate winner.”
The fight represents a defining moment in Coolwell’s career. If he defeats Carrington, the Queenslander will move closer to a world title opportunity, cementing his place on the world stage.
“I only started boxing to stay in shape,” Coolwell reflected. “But since my first amateur fight, I never looked back.”
With millions of viewers, Coolwell is determined to make the most of his moment in the spotlight.
As her coach Pitt says, “Texans love Aussies and Dana is nice, talented and ready to perform.” “The world will finally see what I always knew: Dana Coolwell is a star.”