Victorious professional debut for Nelson boxer

Nelson’s Dawn Chalmers certainly let her fists do the talking during the first professional bout of her boxing career.

Chalmers came up victorious against her opponent, the previously unbeaten Megan McLennan, at the boxing event held at Hotel Motueka on Saturday night.

Event promoter Vincent Sibbald said Chalmers fight was the first female professional boxing bout in the South Island.

‘‘She had a tough fight against Megan McClennan which went the distance, it was a unanimous points decision to Daw, but Megan was valiant and a tough opponent.’’

It was also Chalmers first fight in six years having recently returned to the sport after a suc- cessful foray into mixed martial arts.

Sibbald said Chalmers had a lot of support at the event and was ‘‘thrilled’’ with the victory.

As well as seven corporate bouts, John Parker - younger brother of WBO heavyweight champion Joseph - took on Luke Oakes in an exhibition fight, while Queensland’s Jack Boote claimed the NZ Masters’ title after his bout with Shannon Hepi.

The event went off without a hitch and Sibbald said he was thankful to the community for their support and encouragement.

‘‘It was fantastic, we had an absolutely brilliant crowd, trouble free, they thoroughly enjoyed it. It really ignited a bit of a fire under Motueka.’’

It was the first time there had been a professional boxing event in Motueka for at least 60 years and it brought people from the wider region into town.

‘‘There was just a brilliant response from everyone in the upper south.’’

Due to its success, Sibbald said the event would become an annual fixture in Motueka.