Boxing can be a strange business at times. Take the case of Neil Nili Ta’ala. In 1986 Neil won the Auckland Provincial amateur middleweight title. Myself and Gil Sullivan were promoting boxing at The Mainstreet Cabaret at the time and because of his crowd pleasing style and good fan base offered Neil a professional bout on our next promotion, which he accept.
So, after having posters printed with his photo on them, imagine our surprise when on the week of the proposed fight he pulled out saying he was sticking to the amateur code.
A bigger surprise for me (Gil Sullivan has since died) was install when nearly 20 year later Ta’ala fronts up for his professional debut against useful Bob Gasio in a heavyweight bout at the Otara Recreational Centre (South Auckland) on November 20th, 2007.
What was no surprise is that he lasted only 1min 40s into the first round against the hard punching Gasio.
What induced Neil to pull out of the first fight yet make an entry into the paid ranks 20 years on I guess we will never know.
The rest of the bill was made up of so-called corporate fights, plus two featuring “fafafines”.
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Promoter Ofisa Vili proved you don’t need name boxers to put on a good show when he promoted a mixed night of martial arts and boxing at Manurewa Netball Stadium in South Auckland on Friday, December 7th. The programme featured five four-round pro bouts plus two full Muay Thai fights and provided plenty of action for the fans.
The Cockney gentleman who acted as the timekeeper said the “battle royals” between mainly locals reminded him of his days of sitting ringside at the famous York Hall in London’s Bethnam Green.
First up Moses Ioulu decisioned Jay Hughes in a wild swinging cruiserweight contest.
Steve Donaldson, normally a kickboxer, had enough fitness to claim a victory over Star Chong Nee, a brother of leading light-heavyweight contended Rico, in the next stoush.
Paul Ulukiuloia, also known as Tyson Ofisa, came out fast against Giogiosina Ulutoa, in the next, a heavyweight fight, but soon ran into trouble. A hard flurry from Ulutoa sent Paul stumbling back into his own corner. Referee Fayez Khan began to apply a count but was beaten by a towel that came flying from Ulukiuloia’s corner.
Middleweight Fale Siaoloa Savelio had been due to fly to Australia to fight on the undercard of a big promotion the same night but because of a technical hitch instead found himself in suburban Manurewa fighting local rival Paz Veijo. Although the Samoan looked the better, more composed, fighter he wasn’t busy enough and lost a majority decision.
The main fight, like the others a four-rounder, was between Oscar Siale and Mike Lloyd. While fights between southpaws are usually boring, this was a beauty. Siale dropped Lloyd with a right-left-right combination at the end of the third round and the bell rang as he regained his feet. Lloyd came back hard in the last round but couldn’t make up the 10-8 deficit in the previous, losing a unanimous decision.
In a bout with a controversial ending Australian Kerry Palmer came across the Tasman to fight local Daniel McKinnon at the Auckland Boxing Association Stadium on December 15th for the WBO-Oriental suppermiddleweight title.
The Aussie had a good record against Kiwi boxers having beaten Paz Viejo, Willie O’Neill, Bruce Glozier and Prince Hamid. The bout was fought at a fast pace until the third round when McKinnon clipped Palmer with a left hook which appeared to temporarily stun him. McKinnon followed up with a flurry that sent Palmer to the canvas whereon the referee stopped the contest.
Many in the audience were stunned by the sudden stoppage saying that Palmer appeared fully recovered and was only resting waiting for an eight-count. Unfortunately due to a previous commitment I was unable to be present and cannot give you an unbiased opinion. Only the second time I have missed a pro-am promotion at the ABA since 1993.
As well as amateurs the promotion also featured a four-round pro battle between female heavyweights Alitasi Dutt and Miriam Graham, won on points by Dutt.
In the last NZ promotion of 2007, Michelle Preston (51.8kg) outpointed Australian Edith Smith (51.8kg) over 6 x 2 minute rounds at the Freeman’s Bay Community Centre, Auckland on December 21st for the South Pacific bantamweight title. The fight was part of a spectacular mixed martial arts night and ringsiders reckon this boxing match stole the show.
For record collectors: Jason Costa (76.5kg) win points 8 rounds Shane Waterreus (77.5kg) at the Regent Theatre, Greymouth, November 3rd 2007.
