Vale Dr Paul Perkins

Boxing Australia deeply mourns the passing of Dr Paul Perkins, a former national boxing coach, Participation Manager, and cherished pillar of our sporting community.

Paul was a proud Indigenous man whose life’s work was defined by service, spanning his time in the Australian military to his impactful tenure as an Assistant Boxing Coach at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and his later role in the AIS Coach Development Team. A passionate advocate for his community, he championed the integration of First Nations methodologies to enrich high-performance coaching.

Driven by a passion to use sport as a vehicle for positive youth development, Paul earned his PhD in 2019, designing ‘ModBox’—a visionary, low-risk boxing framework created to make the sport accessible, safe, and enjoyable for all Australians.

Beyond his immense professional milestones, Paul was a coach's greatest advocate. His infectious positivity and genuine care for the wellbeing of those around him lifted everyone he met. He truly believed in the “Australian Way”: that coaches and athletes are at their best when they come together as a supportive, open community.

We are profoundly grateful for the immense legacy Paul leaves behind. His kindness, wisdom, and dedication will never be forgotten. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and the countless individuals who were lucky enough to have Paul in their corner.

Boxing Australia