Former two-division New Zealand boxing champion Beau O’Brien has announced he plans to come out of retirement before the
end of the year.
He might be more well known over the last couple of years for his Entrepreneurial Napier lawnmowing business known as
“Bo's Mows”. However, the business owner is also a well-skilled boxer and he is making his boxing return after being
away from the ring for over four years.Boxing History
Born and raised in Napier, Beau O’Brien began his boxing career in the amateur division. During his time as an amateur,
he won a New Zealand title once in 2007, before making his professional debut in 2012.
In his first two years of boxing, he kept busy trying to build his professional boxing career. He won his first boxing
title in 2013 for the New Zealand National (NZPBA version) Super Welterweight title. A few months later he won a minor
regional title when he fought British-born New Zealander Rick Bushell for the GBF Oceania Super Welterweight title.
In July 2014, Beau O’Brien got his first big opportunity when he went over to China to fight another up-and-coming
undefeated boxer Kuok Kun Ng. O’Brien suffered his first defeat of his professional boxing career losing by unanimous
decision. Kuok Kun Ng today is still currently undefeated today with a record of 12 - 0 - 1. O’Brien took his first
break from boxing the fight.
Four years later in 2018, O’Brien made his in-ring return against amateur boxing veteran Shiva Misha in Pahiatua on the
Lance Bryant homecoming fight night. O’Brien’s fight was very close, however, he manage to walk away with the victory by
unanimous decision.
Beau O’Brien was back in Professional boxing with a decent record under him and with his warm-up fight out of the way,
he was ready to take bigger fights. He was given an offer to fight in Fiji above his normal weight division to take on
an undefeated boxer Siliveni Nawai for the WBF Australasian Middleweight title. It was risky but he accepted the
challenge. O’Brien went on to win the fight by TKO, his second stoppage win of his career.
In October 2018, O’Brien fought in his hometown for the first time in almost five years. He made another big gamble when
he took on former top 10 WBO-ranked boxer, Gunnar Jackson. This was a big dream fight with a big reward. As an added
bonus it was also for the vacant New Zealand national (NZPBA version) Middleweight title and another minor regional
title, the UBF Asia Pacific Middleweight title.
Beau O’Brien took a major risk, not only due to the massive experience of Gunnar Jackson, but also O’Brien against
fighting as a Middleweight boxer, which is one division above his weight class. O’Brien won the fight by Majority
decision.Returning to boxing
After the fight, O’Brien focused more on his priorities including starting a family and his Lawnmoxing business. Now he
aims to return with one more run for the big times in boxing. Currently, his record is 7 wins 1 loss 1 draw with 2 wins
by KO. He aims to get to 10 wins on his record before jumping into the deep in with major risks.
He will be returning to his usual weight division of 69.9 kgs known as the Super Welterweight division. There are very
few boxers currently in the division in New Zealand including Bowyn Morgan who is on the edge of retiring as well. The
other boxer to look at would be the recently crown New Zealand Middleweight Champion Marcus Heywood who has fought in
the Super Welterweight division multiple times in the past. Andrei Mikhailovich called out Beau O’Brien in the past
before O’Brien went on a temporary retirement in 2018, however, it is unlikely for that fight to go ahead as
Mikhailovich is secured in the Middleweight division, as well as being ranked in the WBO and IBF.