Lightweight Heavyweight| Brisbane, Australia

Hailing from Palm Beach, Queensland, Billy McAllister’s journey into boxing began at age 11, initially as a way to stay fit during the off-season of Aussie Rules. He trained out of Tweed Heads PCYC, the closest gym he could find, unaware that he was stepping into what would become a lifelong pursuit of excellence.

His early taste of the ring was humbling, a points loss in his first amateur bout at just 12 years old. But what followed was telling: a nine-fight amateur win streak that set the tone for a fighter who refuses to let setbacks define him. By the age of 15, he had already claimed a state novice title. Today, he is a two-time Australian amateur champion.

Billy’s commitment to his country extends beyond the ring. From age 20 to 25, he served as a rifleman in the Australian Army, posted to the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (6RAR). There, boxing and military life worked hand in hand to forge one of the most disciplined minds in Australian boxing. Training to fight at 6RAR became key preparation for representing Australia at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

Although his third bout in Birmingham was stopped after a serious cut above his left eye, Billy walked away with a deeper resolve and the respect of his team. “It was a bit of an unfortunate result,” he reflected, “but overall it was a really good learning experience.”

The parallels between boxing and soldiering are clear to him:

“It’s a similar mindset of never quitting, whether I’m hurt or not, and seeing it through… There’s a constant battle with yourself. You’re fighting other people, but really it’s you versus you.”

Billy brings that same mentality into every session at Fortitude Boxing Club in Brisbane, where he trains under Luke Meldon. Supported by figures like Kepler Wessels and Jarrod Fletcher, Billy’s career is shaped by mentors who recognise his raw potential and elite mentality. He credits his time in the infantry with building the kind of resilience that few opponents can match:

“I know none of the other boys I’m fighting are marching up mountains in the rain or staying up three days straight digging. I’ve got that over them.”

He remains deeply patriotic and proud of his service, active in veteran support initiatives through Fortitude Boxing Gym, including Wandering Warriors. Whether it’s in the boxing ring or representing Australia on the world stage, Billy McAllister is relentlessly chasing the best version of himself.

When he's not training, Billy recharges by cooking Italian food and blasting AC/DC’s Hell’s Bells—a fitting soundtrack for a fighter who never backs down.