New Zealand is supposed to be an egalitarian society but I would hardly call a wharfie and a paperhanger corporate types. Yet that is what they were billed as, at the Pukekohe Indian Centre on Saturday March 24, when over 800 people packed the center to witness what was advertised as a night of “corporate boxing”. Also featured was a stable hand, a used-car salesman, a rugby union coach, a primary schoolteacher and topping the bill was a couple of fair dinkum pugs.
Hard to stretch the imagination into calling any of them corporate.
Never mind. It was a great evening and the charity Child Cancer benefited.
Participants’ ages ranged from 21 to 51. Some contestants wore headgear, some chose not to. In front of a well lubricated crowd and with former international cricketer Simon Doull doing a great job as MC, Adrian Smith and Johnny Fetelika duked it out in the first bout.
Smith, a 35-year-old waterside worker weighing 96.6kg, had done a bit of pugging before, while 119.7kg 30-year-old painter and decorator Fetelika was a natural fighter. Smith won by a split decision and the contest was a cracker which made it hard for the ensuring bouts to equal. Take note promoters; put any likely looking encounters on at the end of your program.
The main fight was a Pan Asian Boxing Association cruiserweight title bout between local-based Algerian Mohamed Azzaoui and Samoan Alapati Kitiona. The Pacific Islander was a last minute replacement after two previous potential opponents pulled out.
In the first round, Kitiona appeared to be having trouble with his footing but also seemed determined to make a fight out of it.
He had the same problem with footing in the second round, mainly because Azzaoui had unloaded a big overhand right which sent him tumbling into the ropes. Referee Gary McCrystal quite rightly put a count on him, then another when he tumbled into the ropes following a big second Azzaoui right. On both occasions, only the ropes held him up. Some know-all members of the crowd mistook McCrystal's actions and thought he was applying standing eight-counts (not allowed in New Zealand professional boxing).
Late in the second round Azzaoui dropped his opponent with a flush left hook and McCrystal waved the whole thing off. Azzaoui looked impressive even taking into account his rather ordinary opponent.
On the same night at the Mangawhai Tavern, Mangawhai, former prospect Seiaute Mailata (99.4kg), making a comeback, had too much power and skill for Moroni Schwalger (93.7kg), knocking him down twice in the first round before referee Lance Revill stopped proceedings.
Ben Minista (107.9kg) and Joey Wilson (114.2kg) looked ready to battle it out when Minista popped his shoulder midway through the first round and had to withdraw. And in the only other bout in the program Alofa Faamoana (116kg), making his pro debut, was out of his depth with experienced Oscar Talemaira (127.7kg) and the ref rescued Alofa in the second round.
Tongan fighter Sosaia Vaka boxed smart, using ring craft, as well as brawn to claim the New Zealand super middleweight title. The Whangaparoa-based boxer won a majority points decision over Vai Aki to win the NZNBF title at the Auckland Boxing Association Stadium on March 29.
Vaka (76.2kg) used his superior reach to outpoint the hard-punching Aki (76kg), working the range and avoiding his opponent’s vicious hook shots over 36 minutes of intense ring action.
The fight seemed just about even coming into the last round when Vaka staggered Aki with a big right hand. The Samoan staggered to the ropes where a ferocious uppercut snapped his head back. That was followed by a wild volley of punches, most of which seemed to land. Only the bell saved Aki who looked out on his feet. This appeared to be 10-8 round for Vaka. So it was a surprise to see Judge Logan Bragg give the fight to Aki. Fellow judge Steve Miles gave it to Vaka by a couple of points, and the third judge, Laurie Glozier, seemed to have it spot on at 117-111 for Vaka.
It was appropriate the 1960’s light heavyweight champion Johnny Nomura was in the audience. He had four similar bruising battles with Earl Nikora.
In the only other pro fight on the bill, Earl Nickora’s nephew Dion McNabney (69kg) outpointed Bruce Chan Fong (70.8kg) over four rounds. Amateur bouts made up the rest of the program.
Chan Fong is Bruce Glozier’s real name.
