‘Terrified’: Reality TV star Arabella Del Busso makes staggering career move

The former SAS Australia contestant has confirmed to The Daily Telegraph she will be fighting on the stacked undercard of Paul Gallen’s December 10 showdown with NRL forward Josh Aloiai.

Del Busso and McLaren will be two of the biggest drawcards for the two-night boxing extravaganza in Newcastle which will also feature the pro debut of Olympic bronze medallist Harry Garside and the return fight for former world champion Andrew Moloney.

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The 30-year-old former partner of rugby league player Josh Reynolds had told her Instagram followers in August she wanted to compete in a professional boxing fight.

Now she has confirmed her ambitions with a showdown against British model Kate McLaren.

The Sydney-based fighter is under the tutelage of Australian boxing icon Jeff Fenech and recently declared her ambitions to win a world title.

McLaren made her boxing debut in May at Hornsby RSL in Sydney. Her second fight will be in front of a monster crowd and a huge TV audience on Main Event.

McLaren, who has modelled at the Australian Bridal Fashion Week and has appeared in clothing store catalogues in the UK, has an extensive background in combat sport.

A personal trainer residing in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, McLaren had a background in mixed martial arts before she linked up with Fenech.

Del Busso’s experience, however, is limited to sparring sessions in the gym and has been working with Melbourne trainer Christian Ennor for six months.

She told The Telegraph she “feels ready” for the challenge “with what I have been through in the last two years”.

Del Busso last year competed in Channel 7’s SAS Australia where she made headlines for speaking out about her dark past.

It came after the former model and the former Bulldogs star spoke out against each other in a 60 Minutes special surrounding their separation.

The story involved accusations of fake pregnancies and violence during a rocky relationship and messy split, including extraordinary video footage of Reynolds yelling at his former partner during a tirade in which she claimed she was pushed against a wall.

Reynolds was accused of assaulting Del Busso, whose real name is Donna Preusker, but the charges were dropped in February, 2020.

She now says she has been fully committed to making a career move into boxing and says she was the one who reached out to McLaren to make the fight happen.

“Don’t get me wrong, I am a little bit terrified but, at the same time, this fight is something I can achieve in life,” Del Busso said.

“It is a very lonely sport but I am getting stronger and am understanding the sport. This would be a great achievement.

“It’s okay to look good and have speed but it’s about technique and having an understanding of what your opponent will potentially be like.

“I haven’t fought before but have been boxing and sparring for at least two years now. Boxing is great for you physically, mentally and for your discipline. Fitness-wise, this takes it out of you. You’ve got to open those lungs up. I feel like this would be a great opportunity.”

Both McLaren and Fenech have spoken respectfully about Del Busso’s boxing skills, saying they have seen her in action and have been impressed.

“I know Arabella has been boxing for years. I’ve seen her train and box on videos and she looks all right,” Fenech said.

McLaren says she has already had people speaking to her to tell her to “knock her (Del Busso) out”.

Originally published as Reality TV star Arabella Del Busso makes staggering boxing move