Bumper night at boxing champs

Manawatu boxing championships organiser Billy Meehan was inundated with nearly double the expected entries at the weekend.

There was originally meant to be 18 bouts at Queen Elizabeth College on Saturday, but Meehan ended up with 35 fights in a bumper day and night.

Meehan was meant to have seven fighters from Meehan’s Boxing Club in action, but only three ended up fighting.

Damon Meehan lost on a split decision against Adam Sumnut from Naenae in their under-50kg bout in another good fight.

Alec Wagner fought Connor Anderson from Dannevirke in a cadet under-40 bout and Anderson won on split decision, reversing the result from their fight at the recent Palmerston North tournament.

Jackson Thompson won by walkover when Tahuriorangi Mihaka (Rotorua) pulled out with injury.

Nikita Jamieson lost to Nicole Wilkinson from Blenheim by unanimous decision in a junior female under-66kg fight in what was a great fight where they both went for it. Jamieson showed some good skills, but Wilkinson had power.

Onyx Lye, Kaeya Waruparakuka and Ruby Tufuga were all meant to fight, but won unopposed.

In one of the better fights of the event, Simba Mackey from Schuster Boxing Club in Feilding won on split decision against Naniteariki Richel from Rotorua in their under-38kg matchup.

Schuster’s Iulio Iulio lost to Thomas Russell from Wellington in their under-91kg fight by unanimous decision.

They have fought three times in recent months, with Russell winning two of them.

The Palmerston North Boxing Club had four fighters lose on split decision, as well as a points loss and two wins.

Tyler Green lost on split decision in his mini cadet 34kg bout against Kalai Procter from Rotorua.

Ollie Beech lost on points to Kevin Hay from Rotorua in their 43kg cadet fight.

Caleb Foot lost to Saxton Ferris from Blenheim in their junior 45kg fight on a split decision.

Amber Foot lost her female cadet 43kg fight on a split decision against Naturehe Raniawha from Rotorua.

Amber Foot was named the most promising Manawatu boxer.

Ben Jenkins lost to Ethan Heihei from Trentham in their cadet 47kg matchup.

Jayden Holden beat Nathan Epapara from Rotorua on points in their youth 59kg fight.

Alex Jenkins won on points against Tearki Iraira from Rotorua on their cadet 50kg.

Rex Jenkins from Central Rotorua won the points trophy for the club with the most wins.

The national championships are in Rotorua next month.