Journeyman boxer Kelly McBride sensationally knocked out former NZ amateur champion Brad Milner in the first round of their welterweight bout at the Hornby Workingmen’s Club (Christchurch) on April 12.
Milner, who had made a successful professional debut in Melbourne recently was heavily favoured to beat the 38-year-old McBride, who had put in a 12-hour shift at the meat works in his hometown of Greymouth before travelling to Hornby for the fight.
Milner made the mistake of leading with a left rip to the body and was dropped with a perfectly times straight right to the jaw and was flattened in just 1min 38secs, which included the 10 seconds count of referee Dion Murphy.
Milner lay prone on the canvas for some time before being assisted from the ring, but recovered quickly in the dressing room. Quickly enough to say that he would like a rematch with McBride.
In the other professional contest Jason Costa won a six-round split decision over Michael Barry at light heavyweight.
Amateur bouts made up the supports.
A fight for the vacant NZ welterweight title held at Auckland Boxing Stadium on April 27 ended in controversy after contestants Guillermo “Pantera” Mosquera and Rawiri Wiremu (aka David Wiremu) literally went head-to-head.
The two clashed heads late in the first round. Mosquera shook his head, turned around and walked to his corner. Referee Peter Flurety immediately stopped proceedings, grabbed a towel and mopped the blood from the South American-born fighter’s eyebrow. Then he talked to Pantera and his handlers and after a bit of a break waved the fight on.
The atmosphere at the packed stadium was tense.
In round three another head clash saw Pantera spin on his heels, shaking his head and gesticulating (he would later have seven stitches over his left eye and five over his right).
Once again referee Flurety stopped the bout. This time he leaned over the top rope and conferred with New Zealand Boxing Federation president, Gary McCrystal, before calling and calling it a technical draw. Things became rather heated at ringside but luckily sound security prevented any ugly incidents.
In a semi-pro heavyweight encounter scheduled for three rounds Mathew Siu threw his shoulder out after a minute of wild swinging with opponent Andrew Brown and was forced to retire.
Rawiri hired the venue and promoted the event himself and drew one of the biggest crowds ever at the stadium.
Amateur bouts made up the program.
Daniella Smith won the vacant NZ women’s welterweight title when she outpointed Sue Glassy over six rounds at a sold out “That Was Then-This is Now” Trust gymnasium promotion held at Ellerslie (Auckland suburb) on May 6th.
Smith was in top form for her second pro fight after a lengthy amateur career. Glassy, who once held a version of the world kickboxing title, put up a gutsy effort.
In two three-round supports, Lava Savalino knocked out Henry Kingi in the second of a heavyweight match, while Lee Oti (74.3kg) outpointed Croatian kickboxer known only as Marek (80kg).
Former bad-boy of Aussie rugby league, John Hopoate, was the star turn at the annual Fight for Life, held at Waitakere Trust Stadium on May 14.
Hopoate, who is believed to be about to embark on a professional career in the ring, overwhelmed former All Black, Ofisa Tonu’u and the referee was forced to call the contest off in the second round.
Other results – Tony Tutupu, an original member of the Warrior’s rugby league team outpointed John Allen, former South African and Scottish rugby union player, David Fumer an ex-Canberra Raider outpointed Duanne Mann another original Warrior; Inga Tuigamala, ex-All Black and leaguie outpointed Adrian Garvey, a former Springbok and another former Warrior Tony Tuimavee outpointed league icon Kevin Campion. Kevin can take some solace in the fact that Tony gad previous boxing experience in the “tough-man contests.”
The promotion raised $30,000 for the Child cancer Foundation.
