Once again Samoan-born boxer Kalolo Faitua came to the aid of the Auckland Boxing Association when he agreed to take on tough Tongan, Sosaia Vaka, only 24 hours before fight night at the ABA’s monthly pro-am tournament at their stadium on October 26. This is the third time Faitua, also known as Kololo Cruse, has stepped out and helped out the ABA’s matchmaker (who happens to be me) at the last minute.
Vaka’s original opponent, Moroni Schwalger, had to pull out die to a neck injury.
Faitua (82kg) took the fight to Vaka (80.1kg) over the four two-minute rounds, but lost to the younger, fitter man who had been training for a main event against intended opponent Schwalger. Faitua’s fight-in-a-phone-box style made for an action packed bout but earned him a trip to Auckland Hospital’s accident and emergency department afterwards with a broken nose and badly sprained wrist.
Despite the point’s loss, where he sustained a formidable onslaught of heavy blows, Faitua rocked Vaka with a left hook in the second round that badly wobbled his opponent.
In the other half of the double bill, Big Joey Wilson at 6ft 6in and weighing 125kg, did not look in the best condition for his fight with opponent Richard Tutaki (116.5kg).
Word on the street was Joey had broken training and attended a Tangi (Maori funeral, much like an Irish Wake) the weekend before the fight.
But regardless of whether Wilson was fit, Tutaki who was having his 29th fight, seven of them overseas, and against such notable opponents as Bob Mirovic, Shane Cameron and Chauncy Welliver, proved a bit too wily for Wilson, having his third recorded contest.
Tutaki also came in as a last minute replacement adding more headaches for the matchmaker. He was a substitute for Lava Savelio, who ad appeared in the New Zealand Herald’s most wanted pages the day before.
Wilson showed he had a promising future in the game by throwing some good combinations and taking some powerful right hand bombs to the head and body from Tutaki. In the finish however Richard was just too fit and knew far too much for Wilson.
Wilson lost the four-rounder by a unanimous decision.
In the best amateur fight on the undercard Adrian Taihia (73kg) of Richmond Road-based King’s Gym, where Guillermo “Pantera” Mosquera is doing a good job training inner-city kids, outpointed Jay Sweet (72.1kg) of Waitakere in a willing scrap.
This years New Zealand amateur boxing championships were held in Rotorua and saw 140 nominations, the biggest number for entries for years.
Outstanding boxer of the champs was 19-year-old Canterbury middleweight Nathan McEwen. He took back home to Christchurch three historic belts: the Jamieson Belt for the most scientific boxer, the Alf Cleverly for winning his division and the Bill O’Connor for being the youngest senior winner.
Incidentally on the pro side of boxing, the ABA now promotes under the auspices of the New Zealand Professional Boxing Association, President Mr. Pat Leonard, which is affiliated to the WBC, PABA and the British Commonwealth Board of Control.
