South Auckland trainer Ofisa Vili staged a promotion at the Manurewa Netball Stadium on Friday September 28 that drew a big crowd and featured kickboxing, full on Muay Thai, boxing, hip-hop and Polynesian food.
In the main boxing match of the evening, Shane Chapman, having his first orthodox boxing contest in two years, gained a four round points decision over former Samoan amateur champion, Niusila Seuli, in a light heavyweight fight. Action was fast and furious but Chapman’s cleaner punches won him the decision.
Technically the best bout of the evening was between Harry Venka and visiting Samoan, Fale Siaola, in a four round middleweight mill. Venka, a former amateur champion from India, kept a beautiful straight left in Fale’s features throughout the contest’s duration, but the pugnacious Samoan turned in a good showing despite losing a unanimous decision.
As far as the vocal crowd was concerned the four-rounder between light middleweights Dion McNabney and Gareth Edwards was the fight of the night. A virtual slugfest, in which both boys fought toe-to-toe, saw McNabney take the decision. This scrap warrants a return.
Another former top amateur making his pro debut was Pakistan’s Rahif Mumtaz, now a resident in Hamilton. He lost a disputed four round verdict to Oscar Siale in the cruiserweight division. The decision had a mixed reception.
Aussie crowd favorite, Paz Viejo, rapidly becoming a veteran, know just a bit too much for the promoter’s brother, Jackson Vili, having his first pro start and won a four round decision at supermiddle. Paz is a promoter’s dream; he will fight anyone, anywhere.
Other results (all four rounds): heavyweight, Matt O’Dea outpointed Mose Ioelu; super middleweight Steve Donaldson outpointed Star Chong Nee; heavyweight Kalolo Asiata outpointed Ben Minista.
Boxing also featured on another program featuring martial arts when ETK promotions promoted a mixed night of fisticuffs at the Ocean View Restaurant (Auckland City) on September 22. Only drawback to a good night was that the two boxing bouts didn’t come on until after 11pm. Prince Hamid (75kg) was just a bit too consistent for PazViejo (75kg) and won a split four round decision, while former New Zealand champion David Wiremu (69kg) won a comfortable four round verdict over comebacking Duan Marshall (73kg)
Best boxer of the New Zealand Amateur Championships held at Active Zone Stadium, Glenfield on Auckland’s North Shore (an identical area to North Sydney, people and scenery wise) between September 20-22 was lower Hutt’s middleweight Joe Blackbourn, who won the Jamieson Belt for most Scientific Boxer. He beat last year’s Belt winner and champion Nathan McEwan (West Coast) in the middleweight final. Joe came up from welterweight to fight in a decision packed with talent. McEwen had fought his way by beating multi title winner Kahu Bentson (Auckland) in the semi final.
The super heavyweight final between Isikeli Maama (Rodney) and Graeme Buxton (Metro) was a blink and you will miss it affair with Buxton hitting the canvas inside 60s.
Bets fight of the finals was between Reece Papuni (Canterbury) and Zig Zag Wallace (Waikato), won by Wallace. Light heavyweights.
Outstanding intermediate boxer was Feilding’s Ricky Murphy who beat old rival Joseph Barchard (Auckland) in the 64kg final and best of the junior’s was Mohammed Ali (Counties – and his true name) who stopped H Scarfie (Hutt Valley) in the 57kg final.
