Australian Super Welter Weight title holder, Dylan Biggs will step up in weight to fight Melbourne boxer Ryan Mitchem in Sydney on 13 September.
Mitchem has had nine professional fights with three wins (including one knock out) and six losses.
Biggs will be stepping up in weight from his usual 69kg to fight at 75kg.
He is looking forward to defending his Australian title later this year.
The most likely opponent is Nikita Tszyu who was the final eliminator in the Australian Super Welter Weight.
After meeting Tszyu following the elimination fight in Sydney, Biggs said he would rate himself above Tszyu.
“I see some weaknesses that I’d like to exploit,” said Biggs.
“I think I’ve had it from the bottom all the way to the top and he’s had things given to him that I haven’t.”
Biggs’ message to students
Australian Welter Weight Boxing Champion, Dylan Biggs, moved out of the comfort zone of the boxing ring to address students at Beaudesert State School and Beaudesert State High School recently.
Biggs visited Beaudesert State School on the suggestion of his nephew, Jaxson Ellis, where he spoke to several classes about bullying.
He visited Beaudesert State High School, along with his trainer Justin O’Leary of Beaudesert Boxing Club, to inspire Year 8 and 9 students with a message about hard work, respect and sacrifice leading to positive results.
Organised by English and History teacher Luke Stegemann, the session was part of the school’s Get Connected program, which facilitates a range of pastoral care and wellbeing activities, with the values of ‘respectful, responsible and ready’ at the core of the program.
Stegemann is also a boxing referee former Committee Member of Boxing Queensland.
Nine years ago, Stegemann went to see O’Leary about training at the Club.
“That’s where I met this skinny little kid boxing away at the bags,” he said, “That was Dylan Biggs.”
Biggs was 10 years old when he started training at Beaudesert Boxing Club, his father was a boxer and it was one of the first activities he became involved in when the family moved to the area.
“It was something to keep me off the streets, so I didn’t get into any trouble,” said Biggs.
He attended Beaudesert State High School from Year 8 until part way through Year 12.
He was known as a respectful student who quickly showed his dedication to his chosen sport.
Biggs said in Year 11 and 12 he would train for an hour and a half before walking to school, then go back to the Boxing Club after school.
The discipline and dedication he showed as an amateur boxer at this time, have led to his success as a professional.
“Dylan, like many athletes, has sacrificed a lot to get where he is,” said his trainer, Justin O’Leary.
“He’s had maybe one beer in his life. When you want to achieve in a sport like this, you can’t be going out with the boys, or girls, and drinking, you give up a lot.”
Both O’Leary and Biggs stressed how important discipline is as an athlete, with O’Leary saying any boxer he trains who fights outside the ring is banned.
“Even though I’m a fighter, I never had a fight at school,” said Biggs.
One of the students asked if Biggs plays Fortnite.
“I used to when I was younger but don’t have time now. Unless you want to be a professional Fortnite player you need to do something else,” he replied.
Year 8 student Tyler Arthy looks up to Biggs as a role model and enjoyed hearing him speak.
“It is hard work and takes time and lots of practice to get into it. It was really interesting,” he said.
