Noongar warrior and WBC strawweight world title hunter Alex Winwood knows the true meaning of ‘home turf’. In his boxing journey, Perth is more than just a dot on the map; it’s where his heart thumps hardest, powered by his mob and community cheering him on.
Since turning pro, Winwood’s thrown down in Perth four times, each bout echoing with the roar of his people. But life’s taken him east, to the Queensland-New South Wales border, where his long-term partner’s love bridges the vast Aussie expanse.
Winwood’s itching to throw a punch of gratitude back to his supporters. “I love my city. It’s where my heart beats, and I can’t wait to flex my skills in front of my home crowd,” he declares.
Those trips back to Perth and having his partner by his side in the east have smoothed out the bumps of interstate living. “Wherever my partner is, that’s my corner,” he shares.
The fighter grins, “I’m blessed to head back and scrap on home soil, catching up with the mob every three months.”
Amid these dual anchors of support, Winwood’s path in the ring is carving out something special.
His latest victory, a dance with the Philippines’ Cris Ganoza on December 1, punched his ticket to a ‘final eliminator’ for Japanese champ Yudai Shigeoka’s belt next year.
This pits the 26-year-old against Luis Castillo, the WBC’s top dog, in a showdown for the right to challenge Shigeoka.
This next rumble caps off an explosive first year in the pros for Winwood.
He nearly wrapped up the Gazona fight early but settled for a judges’ unanimous nod after 10 rounds, polishing his record to a shiny 4-0.
Winwood’s aware his next opponent’s been eyeing him, but he knows watching tapes and facing fists are worlds apart.
He’s also bracing for his first pro fight on foreign soil. “As an amateur, I’ve duked it out worldwide. I’m no stranger to throwing punches abroad. If it comes to it, I’m ready to duke it out in his backyard or anywhere else,” he states confidently.
If Winwood can snag that world title in just six fights, he’ll etch his name as the fastest Aussie to do so. A dream start? More like a legend in the making.