Gunnedah’s Albert Nolan finished off 2023 by winning the Round of the Year No Limit/Fox Sports award along with Men’s Fight of the Year for the Sporting News’ Australian Boxing Awards.
That list may continue as he has been nominated for Aus-Boxing Awards 2023 Prospect of the Year, Fight of the Year and Upset of the Year which is yet to be announced.
The Gunnedah Times spoke with Black ‘N’ Blue Boxing trainer David (Spike) Syphers about the awards and nominations.
“It is one fight [for all of the awards and nominations] so it is pretty good,” he said.
The awards and nominations were a result of Nolan’s first televised fight in September against Vegas Larfield which left a lasting impression on Australia’s boxing scene.
Boxing legend Jeff Fenech, as reported by Fox Sports, had said at the time, “this has been one of the greatest contests I’ve seen in a long time.”
Nolan winning the fight against 21-year-old Larfield from Brisbane had meant keeping his WBC Australiasian featherweight title.
Nolan is also going into the new year ranking third in Australia for the featherweight division.
“He is back in training, so we are looking at 2024 [and] we are looking for a big year,” Syphers said.
“There will be something that happens soon, probably in the next month.
“[Nolan] is a pretty humble guy so we will just take each fight as it comes.”
He was also nominated for No Limit/Fox Sports Boxing Awards Upset of the Year and Fight of the Year however he was not the only Gunnedah talent recognised.
Wade Ryan had been nominated for Upset of the Year and is currently nominated in the same category for the Aus-Boxing awards.
“It is good for a small town – good exposure,” Syphers said.
“Wade is back in training – so they are both back in training and ready for a fight.”
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