On Saturday September 17th (Election night), as the hopes of New Zealand's two main political parties see-awed back and forward, an equally riveting contest was taking place centring at the Kath Day hall in Otahuhu, South Auckland, writes Jim Mahoney.
Elisara Sii Uta and Amosa Zinck went head-to-head for eleven rounds for the New Zealand National Boxing Federation heavyweight title in front of a capacity crowd.
The fight which had been even-stevens until round eleven, changed dramatically in that stanza as Elisara suddenly reeled back into the ropes, apparently hurt, and Amosa followed up with a clinical left hook and a sizzling right hand. The local fighter went down hard in the neutral corner.
Observers were surprised Elisara was able to get up but it was enough for referee Peter Flurety to stop the fight and declare Zinck the winner and new champ.
Earlier the crowd were treated – if that's the word – in the case of the disappearing boxer. Peter Falaniko had been checked by the doctor and had gone into the changing rooms, bag in hand.
His opponent for their heavyweight three-round novice pro fight, Faavae Faavae, stood in the ring waiting as the crowd grew restless; But Falaniko failed to appear and apparently had left the building.
An ideal script for a "without a trace" episode.
In other pro action, former national amateur champion Alex Mene (105kg) took Supi Moi Moi's place against Anapapa Gabriel (95kg) on one day's notice and looked sharp in stopping his opponent in the third round.
And huge novice pro Paulie Lakai (118kg) redeemed his first loss against Asene Afoa in July at the ABA Stadium by stopping Asene's brother, Taisago Afoa (105kg)
This wasn't a bout for the purists. Neither fighter bothered much about defence. After two rounds of toe-to-toe slugging, Lakai pinned Afoa in the corner and fired unanswered punches until the referee stopped the fight. Observers reckoned Afoa was stopped more by exhaustion than concussion.
In the best amateur bout on the undercard, Melbourne based Nelson Ali (74kg) formerly of Otahuhu, won a majority decision over African fighter, Absalom Okoth, who now lives in Auckland. Ali used speed, ringcraft and a hard jab to outpoint Okoth, having his 100th bout.
Mrs Cushla Sain was the promoter.
There's no substitute for experience, they say. But that phrase rang hollow for former New Zealand middleweight champion Craig Parsons (76.1kg) when he was knocked out in the first round by Daniel McKinnon (74.4kg) at the Auckland Boxing Association's monthly pro-am tournament on September 29th.
Reporoa bushman McKinnon, was ripped and ready and landed the perfect left-hook on Parson's chin to knock the ex-champion out cold.
Judges scored the main bout between Bruce Glozier (71.6kg) and Chris Rehu (73.1kg) a draw after four rounds.
The winner of the Glozier/Rehu showdown was supposed to fight the winner of the McKinnon/Parsons contest in November for the middleweight title, but the draw upset the plan.
Another former middleweight champion, James Higgins (100kg) had more luck than his counterpart, when he managed to outpoint Burleigh Heads Queensland boxer Mick Flannery (110kg). James was less ambitious than Craig however and settled for a semi-pro three round contest.
In another semi-pro bout, Mike Parkinson (62.1kg) drew with Thomas Laulii (65.7kg) also over three rounds.
The crowd was a disappointing 250.
Former New Zealand intermediate amateur champion, Daniel M McKinnon, continued his professional run with a first-round stoppage of Tapanuu Tagilima at the Auckland Boxing Association Stadium on Thursday October 27th.
McKinnon had scored a stunning first round knockout over Craig Parsons at his last start at the ABA's September show while Tagilima in his last fight had stopped John Conway, also in the first round at the ABA Stadium.
The atmosphere was electric as the two knockout merchants entered the ring for their six-round main event. Tagilima, who has recently switched to South Auckland's Aiga Gym, looked as if he would be the early winner, starting aggressively with a two-fisted attack. But McKinnon now coached by Colin Hunia, patiently waited for an opening for his lethal left hook. That opening came after 1min 59sec of one round when Daniel caught Tagilima flush with his left hook to send the Samoan to the canvas.
He dropped Tapanuu for a second time with an overhand right, and then got him in trouble again with an uppercut on the ropes before referee Logan Bragg stepped in to wave off the contest.
Referee Bragg copped a bit of verbal abuse from some of the more bloodthirsty observers for stopping the bout but it was noticeable to ringsiders that Tagilima's legs had gone completely.
Weights were: Tagilima 76.1kg, McKinnon 75.6kg
In the main undercard fight, Amin Afzaly (74.3kg) who recently shed the singlet, was too fast and aggressive for Chris Rehu (73.4kg) over four rounds and won handily on points. Rehu's trainer Earl Opetaia said he will give the busy Rehu "a Spell", for a few months.
In the semi-pro three-rounder, Savai Vaka (82.8kg) defeated Faisal Zakaria (84.4kg) in a round and untidy encounter that had referee Bragg on the verge of disqualifying both boxers. There was little clean work from either man apart from rabbit-punches landed by both parties and excessive mauling.
Zakaria, a former kickboxer, almost brought his knee up on several occasions while Vaka kept boring forward throughout and never allowed the taller Zakaria to use his advantages in height and reach. It must be said however that the small crowd enjoyed the stoush.
The small crowd might have been caused by another boxing event held over the bridge on the North Shore where a New Zealand amateur selection met an Australian team of simon pures at the Brickhouse Hotel Albany.
New Zealand's Alexis Pritchard dominated her woman's lightweight bout against Australian international Eleanor Boden in a good lively scrap. Kiwi featherweight Scott Gardner beat Aussie Luke Boyd 39-27, and another local Jamie Gardner lost narrowly to Australian Olympian Joel Brunker at lightweight.
The crowd for this international like that of the cross-town pro-am show was small proving Auckland cannot sustain two boxing events on the one night. Authorities should in future choose dates and venues so that they don't clash.
