PRESS
FACTORY OF CHAMPIONS
The far north gym creating a title production pipeline
Trainers at the Far North gym have gained a reputation for their ‘production line of champions’ after spending more than a decade with fighters.
DF Muay Thai and CrossFit in Manunda has ballooned in popularity, growing from 150 to 300 members in just three years, with the venue now recognised as the best Muay Thai gym in the state, receiving the official crown late last year.
While community sport participation has waned across the country, DF gym owner Patrick Doherty said that years of fostering younger generations had helped DF buck the trend. “It’s just like rugby or any sport, when you foster the grassroots… in 10, 15 years you start seeing the results come through,” Mr Doherty said.
“We’ve been building for many years and we’ve created lots of champions over the years.”
“When I was fighting it was very tough… so my goal was to build a gym, get people in as coaches and give them a chance to live and breathe it,” Mr Doherty said.
Ideally for seasoned fighters, those getting fit or for people who just “don’t want to get punched in the face”, the gym was designed for everyone, he said.
Rising prodigy Sunny Mawer is the latest sensation to burst from the inner-city gym. With nine fights and eight wins under his belt since turning professional, including an eight-second bout that broke his opponent’s femur last November, the teenager is starting to make waves across the sport.
Named best Queensland male fighter in 2025, Mr Mawer said DF gym had been a constant source of inspiration.
“I think what Pat’s done so well, and it’s showed with all of his fighters, is he just lets them be them,” he said.
“We’re going to help you, he’s going to help you succeed the best way possible with your style.”
Self-described as a supremely ‘athletic’ fighter who used extreme fitness to his advantage, the 18-year-old was hoping to contend for a world title late this year. But when not training, Mr Mawer said he spent his downtime building up the next generation of fighters.
“Not many of us have had a bar to chase, but now we’ve got young fellas that want to be world champs and stuff,” he said.
“When you don’t think it’s possible, why would you shoot for it?”
“I’m fighting for a career, but I love building kids up… to help people grow and get out of their shit spots by getting them to have a dig and go hard,” Mr Mawer said. “I find it beautiful.”
Excerpt Cairns Post: DF Gym - Factory of Champions
PUNCHIN' ABOVE
Patrick Doherty's DF Gym and Fight Academy at Manunda has been crowned Far North Queensland's best gym, as voted by Cairns Post readers. Picture: Brendan Radke
Cairns Post readers have declared DF Gym to be the best in the Far North with owner Patrick Doherty crediting its supportive family culture and dedicated staff for the win.
The Manunda based Muay Thai and CrossFit gym, which opened 14 years ago, is known for its group fitness classes for kids and adults and its professional Muay Thai coaching.
“There’s a real community right from the young ones all the way through to the professional fighters,” Mr Doherty said.
“The fighters help the kids, the kids go to the shows to support the fighters and then we’ve got a big crew of people just doing it for fun and fitness in between all of that.”
DF Gym and Fight Academy at Manunda. Picture: Brendan Radke
Last year, DF Gym relocated to a custom designed training ground on English Street, just outside Cairns City.
“We were originally half the size, in a dirty old shed,” Mr Doherty said.
“When we opened the new place, it went bananas, our members doubled.
“It’s a nice clean Muay Thai gym with beautiful bathrooms, a sauna and ice bath and things that women want to come to just as much as the men.”
Mr Doherty said he felt his gym was a place for people to socialise and stay fit.
“This is that little place, whether it’s an hour before work or hour after work, to come and wind down from all of those stresses – no one cares where you come from or your story – it’s just a chance for you to relax, be you, then go home.”
The gym was named as Cairns’ best in a recent readers poll.
Excerpt Cairns Post: DF Gym in Munanda Names Best Gym in FNQ
