Another Auckland boxer has gone AWOL shortly before a fight writes Jim Mahoney.

Cruiserweight Fred Lafaele weighed in at the last Auckland Boxing Association pro-am tournament with his trainer and manager and accepted a semi-pro fight against Sosaia Vaka.

Both boxers had two fights for two wins under their belts. Vaka weighed in at 80.3kg and Lafaele at 79.9kg.

Lafaele and his cornermen went to the changing rooms but when the boxers were called to ringside there was no sign of him. Accouncer Gary McCrystal had to declare a forlorn looking Vaka a winner on a walkover (incidentally he was paid).

This is the fourth time in recent years that boxers have disappeared shortly before fights under ABA auspices.

"I've never head of this anywhere else in the world. I'm perplexed bu it," said ABA matchmaker Johnny Lloyd. "It certain wouldn't have happened years ago."