Jye Dixon and Darcy O’Malley from All Star Boxing Academy in Lawnton have both won their weight divisions at the 2026 Elite Selection Trial held at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, putting them firmly in contention for selection in Australia’s boxing team for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
The pair’s victories at the Elite Selection Trial mark one of the biggest results in the Lawnton gym’s history, with two fighters from the same club winning national titles in the same week. Dixon, 21, dominated the 55kg division, winning all of his bouts 5-0. O’Malley, 18, fought five times in seven days to claim the 60kg title. Both athletes started at All Star Boxing Academy when they were around 11 or 12 years old, making their rise from junior members to national Elite Selection Trial champions a story that runs the full length of what the club has built at Lawnton.
Two Champions, Two Paths to the Same Result
Dixon grew up in Caboolture and now trains from Brendale, but his boxing development has been shaped entirely by the All Star program. His performance at the Elite Selection Trial was near-flawless, winning every bout by unanimous decision, and he describes the result as among the defining moments of his career alongside his appearance at last year’s World Championships in Liverpool.
The selection trial win carries particular significance for Dixon given his proximity to the Commonwealth Games story. While preparing for the world titles in Liverpool, he spent time in Glasgow and was close to the venues where this year’s Games will take place. He knows what is at stake and what the city looks like. After the final bout in Canberra, he described the feeling as equal parts relief and disbelief: he had done it, and the magnitude of it took a moment to land.
O’Malley’s path to the same Elite Selection Trial podium has been built across years of state and national age-group competition. He is a five-time Queensland Under-19 60kg Champion and the Australian Schools Youth Champion, and the trial final in Canberra represented his first bout without headguard, marking his formal transition into senior competition. A recent graduate of St Paul’s School at Bald Hills, he is 18 years old and already measuring himself against the best senior men in the country.
A Gym and a Coach Behind Every Win
All Star Boxing Academy operates from Lawnton in the Moreton Bay region and has developed a reputation as one of Queensland’s most productive pathways for amateur boxing talent. Coach Paul Utia has overseen both Dixon and O’Malley’s development across the years since they first walked into the gym as preteens, and the club was direct in acknowledging his role in the week’s results.
Winning at the Elite Selection Trial against the best men in Australia requires more than talent. It requires years of structured preparation, disciplined weight management, tactical development and the mental toughness to compete at full intensity five times in seven days. The academy’s statement put it plainly: to win at this level is a testament to the dedication, sacrifice and relentless daily work both athletes put in, and to the standards Utia drives inside the program.
When the pair returned from Canberra, a large group of All Star boxers, supporters and family greeted them at Brisbane Airport, showing how strongly the Lawnton and North Lakes community felt their success.
What Comes Next
Boxing Australia will announce the Commonwealth Games team on 8 April 2026. Both Dixon and O’Malley now sit in strong contention for selection following their Elite Selection Trial victories, though final team composition remains the national body’s decision. If selected, Australia’s boxing team will follow an extensive preparation program ahead of the Games, including potential international training camps in Brazil and China.
The Commonwealth Games run from 23 July to 2 August 2026 in Glasgow. All Star Boxing Academy is based in Lawnton and can be found via its Facebook page. The club welcomes junior members from around the North Lakes, Petrie and Moreton Bay region.
Published 26-February-2026.
