Former New Zealand amateur champion and international representative, Julian Scully (69kg) of Christchurch, was giving a shock in his first professional fight when he was decked with a right hook in the second round by journeyman Kelly McBride (67kg) at the Hornby Workingmen's Club on August 18.
Scully was boxing along nicely when nuggetty McBride suddenly stepped in with a right hook (a punch virtually unknown in the amateur ranks) and dropped the tall local boxer late in the second round.
Julian was a little wobbly getting to his feet but no count was applied and the round ended before West Coaster McBride could capitalise on the situation.
Form thereon Scully took no chances and boxed on to win the six-rounder with scores 60-54, 59-54 and 60-51 on all judge's cards.
Another Christchurch boxer Matt Te Paa (70.6kg) also made a successful paid debut on the card when referee, former New Zealand amateur and professional champion, Dion Murphy, stopped his contest with Aucklander Chris Rehu (71.3kg) in the fourth round.
Rehu's corner was furious with the decision as he had not been down and did not appear hurt. A local official's explanation to a telephone query from this writer was that: "Rehu has ceased to fight back." Te Paa is a former kickboxer now concentrating on the orthodox code.
The Rehu camp were also unhappy when their star amateur, Selieki Maka, was outpointed by Carl Commons (Riverside Gym) on a count back after both boxers scored 21 points in the main simon pure bout.
Carl's younger brother Todd Commons was awarded the Michael Bell Memorial Trophy as the most scientific amateur on the night when he outpointed Joel Broughton (A Town Gym), 24-20.
Chris Rehu (71.6kg) came back to impress with a four-round points win over a seasoned Willie O'Neill (74kg) at the Auckland Boxing Association's August 25th pro-am tournament at their stadium in Eden Terrace.
Rehu controlled the bout over the veteran O'Neill, who came in as a last minute substitution, in what was the sole professional fight of the evening.
A full amateur card entertained the capacity house.
Julian Slade reports that Chris Rehu backed up again on September 3rd at Auckland's YMCA boxing intelligently against Steve Heremaia. The four-rounder saw Rehu using his range and ring skills well in their middleweight encounter. The dynamic Heremaia, a former national amateur champion and Jameson Belt winner, was awarded a split points decision.
In the main event, heavyweight Jason Suttie and Richard Tutaki battled centre stage in a kickboxing fight that didn't feature a single kick. The Auckland fighters agreed to compete bare-footed and under kickboxing rules but not produce kicks in a professional six-rounder bout where each man concentrated on boxing skills.
Suttie was awarded a point's win over Tutaki by referee, former amateur and professional national boxing champion, Lance Revill.
Their hard-hitting bout was the feature fight of promoter Lollo Heimuli's Saturday afternoon kickboxing carnival.
In an advertised match, Tongan Olympic Games boxer and K-1 kickboxer Doug Viney made his professional orthodox boxing debut in a heavyweight match up with Junior Patti. Both men looked in great shape, with the taller Viney executing long clean shots while Patti threw close range hooks and uppercuts.
Viney scored a four-round point's win on his first ring outing since the last Olympics.
