OUTWEST FIGHT CLUB TRAINER

Todd Makelim - Former Triple Australian Champion 

Todd was born and raised in San Fransisco, USA moving out to Australia at the age of 12. As a troubled young man, Todd says his mother virtually saved him and his two older brothers from being locked up by moving to OZ when they did. "When we were living near Ocean Beach, some thirty minutes drive from the centre of SF, it was a fairly rough area. You either followed the other kids or you got picked on. I had to go with the tougher kids or get the hell beaten out of me."

On arrival to Australia, still bearing his arrogance learnt from the mean streets in the U.S, he was introduced to boxing at the Campbelltown PCYC and never looked back. Trainer Billy Opetaia knew raw talent when he saw it and after just five months of hard work in the gym, he entered the ring to face his first opponent. 25 amatuer bouts later, winning 17 - 14 by knockout and capturing an Australian 54kg title, Todd decided to turn professional.

After an impressive professional debut, a 1st round knockout of Jim Tetores, Todd's career was well on it way. However in his next outing, he suffered a shock knockout loss to Johnny Binge, the result of being hit, followed by a chain reaction in his spine, resulting in him collapsing. After a thorough medical examination, Todd was informed he was born with spondylitis (inflammation of the joints of the vertabrae). The abdominal exercises he was doing in the gym, for core stability and strength, were actually doing his spinal column harm. 

Following this diagnosis, Todd changed his training routine to aleviate further back problems, but found himself on the wrong end of a decision against Daniel Hoskins after a 7 month lay off. Todd looked to the future despite his last two fights. Starting 1996 off with a bang he avenged his loss against Hoskins in his next fight. Todd enjoyed the taste of victory and continued with a win over Barry Olsen, then capturing the Australian Bantamweight Title with a 4th round KO of Alf Wiley. Dropping down two divisions in 1997, Todd crushed any hopes Jack Russell may of had of victory with a brutal body shot in the 1st round, winning him the Australian Flyweight Title. Thai Phinit Parnrangse was next up and he was blown away in 5 rounds. It seemed Todd was unstoppable.

Drama's in the boxing camp saw Todd change teams to train under the watchful eye of former Triple World Champion, Jeff Fenech. In their first fight together, Todd travelled to Thailand in August 97 to meet PABA Flyweight Champion Denkaosan Kaovichit. In a controverial fight which saw both fighters on the canvas, Todd lost by a split decision. The bout was held outdoors and 10,000 fanatical fight fans turned out to see a thrilling bout, ending in a biased decision. Kaovichit went on to challenge Eric Morel for the WBA Flyweight Title.

Todds career was a mixed one at that after this fight. No one knew it at the time why he was so hot, then so cold in the division, but looking back in hindsight, a lot of what happened in and out of the ring, makes sense now. After a dissappointing points loss to Regie Palabrica, then only one fight in 1998, a win over Maximo Barro,Todd travelled to Kidapawan City in the Phillipines to challenge legend in the making, Manny Pacquaio in a non-title fight on the 20th February 1999. After three heavily contested rounds, Jeff Fenech threw in the towel to save his boy from further punishment. Todd rocked the Pacman in the 2nd but didn't have the steam to follow on. The fight is an experience he will never forget.

Coming back in July with a  thrilling 9th round KO over Tony Pappa saw Todd win the Australian Bantamweight Title once again. With another two successful fights in a row, both 5th round knockouts over George Sonio, one may have thought Todd was hot once again. But deep down, he just didn't feel right, no matter how hard he trained, he knew something was physically wrong. Although losing his next outing whilst contesting the WBC International Championship, Todd finally got a crack at a world title.

The WBU Light Flyweight Title was his for the taking. His opponent, ageing African Warrior - Baby Jake Matlala, standing only 4' 10" seemed tailor made for Makelim, but the night was not to be his. On the 17th February 2001, struggling with the high altitude of South Africa, in addition to his unknown medical condition, Todd was forced to retire in the fourth round, signalling and end to his career as a boxer. One year later, a lot of his own questions would be answered.....

Todd wakes up and comes to after collapsing during a game of OzTag. Feeling something definetley was not right, he went to the doctor the next day where he underwent a CAT scan. "Everything was fine but then they did an X-ray of my arteries and throat which showed one side was 50 per cent blocked, the other was 75 per cent blocked," he said. "I was then sent to a heart specialist where i was told five of my arteries were blocked. Three were 100 per cent blocked, the other two 90 per cent blocked. I was told i had the heart of a 75 year old man, when i was only 33."

Doctor were absolutely amazed at how he still managed to achieve what he did, even though his heart was in the condition it was. Had it not been for the cardio vascular workout boxing gives you, or the healthy but taste bud punishing diet required to fight at Flyweight, Todd's story may have been a lot different. If he had been a beer swilling, pizza eating bloke like most out there, doctors say he would have been dead already. After a triple bypass, he was told he would live a normal life and could even make a comeback if he wanted to. He chose not to and pursued his new love of training fighters instead.

"The thing is, i would love to know how i would have went with a 100 per cent heart"

Dont we all Todd...............