New promoters on the local scene, Heartland promotions, took their retinue to the Northland town of Kerikeri on May 27th and staged a promotion at a venue known simply as The Centre. For a town that has never staged professional boxing before (and according to one local that includes the amateur code as well) a surprisingly good crowd turned out to see a tournament of varying degrees of fistic competence.
The opener, between tall Australian heavyweight, John Szigeti and Dale Kuhtze, lasted just 1m45s before the referee rescued the hapless Kuhtze. It is doubtful if Kutze had ever worn boxing gloves before this night.
Another Australian heavyweight Mark de Mori's fight with John Parai lasted a bit longer – 2m 40s into the second round before de Mori sat Parai on the canvas for the full count.
The third fight between former NZ heavyweight champion, Shane Cameron and big Hiriwa Te Rangi also ended in the second round but was full-on action. In fact Te Rangi disputed the stoppage by the referee in favour of Cameron.
Kenyan-born PABA super middleweight champion, Peter Kariuku, defended his title against Australian Paz Viejo (both now resident in Auckland). Kariuku gave a display of classic boxing which forced Viejo's cornermen to throw the towel in during the forth round.
In the main event Mohamed Azzoui defended his PABA cruiserweight title against former multiple NZ champion Sean Sullivan.
Round after round the plucky Sullivan kept taking the fight to Azzoui who used plenty of ring space while going though his whole arsenal of punches.
Sullivan refused to take a backward step however and at the end of twelve rounds the crowd applauded Azzoui's points victory and gave Sullivan a similar ovation.
South Auckland trainer Ofisa Vili put together a great card on Queen's Birthday Monday (June 5) at the Manurewa Netball Pavilion and packed the place out.
Included in the big crowd were a number of sporting and show business personalities from the local Samoan community.
Five top amateur bouts warmed the crowd up before the first pro fight between novices Nick Pullan and Gareth Jenkins (both weighed 62kg). Pullan, an anaesthetics technician, put up a game display before being dropped in the third and final round by a right hand punch from Jenkins. Pullan looked more exhausted than hurt and failed to beat the count.
Former top amateur Vai Akai (76kg), in his first professional fight took on seasoned Tapanuu Tagalima (81kg) dropping him for an eight count in the second round with an overhand right. Tagalima stayed upright through the third and fourth rounds, mystifying ringside fans how he did it after Akai landed several full-blooded shots. Akai won a clear-cut unanimous decision in a bout in which both parties were guilty of landing a number of low blows.
Slick Samoan heavyweight Lawrence Tauasa (97kg) landed every punch in the boxing textbook as he hammered Elisara Sii Uta (104.3kg) around the ring for four rounds before the referee rightly stopped it.
The main fight had been billed between Amosa Zinck and Sam Leuii or Zinck's NZ heavyweight title. But apparently Zinck has returned to the islands so in stepped Daniel Tai. Looking fit at 100kg, Tai dropped Leuii (also 100kg) in the first round with a left hook to the temple. Sam weathered the storm till the bell but then was caught on the ropes in the second round and forced into a sitting position. Ref Peter Flurety quickly stepped in and stopped the fight. There were a few boos but Flurety had clearly done the right thing because when Leuii got to his feet his legs were pure jelly.
