Yesterday, December 22, a group of at-risk young people from South Brisbane District graduated from the Jeff Horn boxing program at the Inala PCYC, with the highlight of the evening featuring bouts between boxing champion Horn and Queensland Police officers.
The exhibition fights were to herald the graduation of 15 at-risk young people from a QPS-led boxing program, mentored by Horn.
Jeff Horn celebrated with the graduates and their families
South Brisbane District Bail Co-ordinator Sergeant Jim Bellos has worked tirelessly to recruit not only disengaged youth, but also world champion boxer Jeff 'The Hornet' Horn into a program focused on health, fitness, respect and self belief.
A longtime advocate for vulnerable youth in the community, Sergeant Bellos has created a unique method of bail supervision, which veers away from punitive measures and instead communicates with disengaged youth and encourages them to enter into the community-based boxing program to be mentored by Horn.
The boxing program is just one example of early-intervention funded by the Queensland Government's Five Point Plan to target youth crime.
Community Based Crime Action Committees have been established in ten districts throughout Queensland from Mount Isa to Cairns to the Gold Coast, and feature local opportunities such as the Jeff Horn boxing program to bring together police and community members to work in partnership and build a safer and healthier community.
Jim Horn and his two police challengers
Last night's graduation saw Senior Sergeant Virginia 'Ferocious' McLean and Senior Constable Tom 'Knuckles' Archer challenge Horn to separate exhibition fights.
Ferocious is a First Nations elder from Narromine New South Wales, who previously worked for Northern Territory Police Force before joining QPS in 2001.
Ferocious addressed the young people and told them of her own challenges as a 26-year police veteran who has suffered depression and is a recovering alcoholic.
She told the crowd that, as a recovering alcoholic, opportunities like this fight prove that hard work is worthwhile.
"Even though I may be old, even though I might have put on a few kilos, today I have proven that if you train hard you can achieve anything," she said.
Knuckles was hoping to confuse the world champion boxer known as 'the Hornet' with a quick flurry of jabs.
The Filipino officer walked out sporting an undersized sleeveless Lonsdale shirt and XXXL shorts, hoping to put fear into the pro boxer.
Knuckles was hoping to avenge the loss his countryman Manny Pacquiao suffered to Horn in 2017.
Knuckles is a former Australian soldier who was deployed to Afghanistan in 2012, and joined QPS upon his return to Australia.
He told the young audience he showcased the Maladjusted Monkeys as it is designed to help veterans and emergency service personnel suffering from depression and post traumatic stress disorder.
In the ring, Horn showed glimpses of his destructive form during the exhibition bouts with both officers.
Both McLean and Archer displayed impressive moments during the fights, which were controversially ruled a draw by the ringside judges.
"This is better than fighting at the championships," Horn said after the exhibition bouts, entertaining the graduating young people and their families.
"The body shots from McLean and Archer definitely took a toll – I'm good with a draw.
"It's all in good fun and the kids and their families were certainly entertained."
The event was supported by Assistant Commissioner Brian Codd, District Officer South Brisbane District Chief Superintendent Bill Graham, Detective Superintendent Denzil Clarke and many other distinguished guests.
Queensland Police would like to offer a special thank you to Jeff Horn, Sergeant Jim Bellos, Senior Sergeant Virginia McLean, Senior Constable Tom Archer, the Inala PCYC for hosting the event and all the young people who completed the program.
