Soulan Pownceby, the Auckland-based boxer won two belts in an international bout at the Auckland Boxing Association Stadium on Thursday, June 17, writes Jim Mahoney.
Pownceby  on top through most of the fight  won the WBF world light-heavyweight title and also claimed the WBO Asia-Pacific title. His opponent was Aussie southpaw Joel Casey, not renowned as a puncher who is ranked third in Australia by box.rec. (not an entirely reliable guide).
Despite having a point deducted for a lowe blow in the 10th, Pownceby was quite rightly clearly ahead on two judges' cards at the fininsh, although saw the fight as being close.
Casey's best burst probably came in the ninth round,when heput real pressure on Pownceby with some good body shots. But the Kiwi responded with a series of combinations to both head and body that appeared to rock the Australian.
Casey went dowen in the 12th but it seemed to be more from an accumulation of blows and exhaustion than overwhelming power on Pownceby's part.
Moyoyo Mensah must be one of the toughest fighteras in New Zealand _ and the most awkward.
The immensely strong, tall and steel-chinned Ghanaian gave opponent, Oscar Siale, a terrible beating in the main support as he grabbed the vacant WBO African cruiserweight crown.
Moyoyo was never likely to stop Siale, who has a fantastic chin but he landed his right hand and big swinging left hook at will to take a unanimous decision.
In other undercard bouts an overwieght Daniel Mckinnon (the former middleweight champion came inat 86kg) used his boxing skills to conserve energy during the frist three rounds against Ioane Talamauga, then opened up in the fourth to win easily.
Isaac Peach, former New Zealand amareur middleweight champ), won a hard first-up pro b out against experienced Moses Ioelu on points.
Peach was a bit tentative and held his head too high in amateur fashion but rediscovered his "inner Westie" (he's from Kelston) to show bit of the brawling form he used in his early unlicensed amateur days during a torrd fouth round.
Another newcomer Vinnie Mahoni (a nephew of the great George Mashoni) had little opposition from veteran Oscar Talemaira. Former kickboxer Mahoni had dthe low workrate many converts bring but showed enough ability to be worth watching in the future.
After s slow first round, Talmaira took some good kshots in the second and in wwent the towel from his corner.