Chalmers gunning for pro boxing glory
After more than a decade in the ring, Nelson’s Dawn Chalmers is having her professional boxing debut today at the Hotel Motueka.
Jointly promoted by Hotel Motueka and Christchurch company Riverside Promotions an anticipated 2000 people are expected to show up for the 13-fight card event.
Held in a specially-erected marquee at the back of the High St venue, Chalmers’ fight is understood to be is the first ever female professional boxing bout in the South Island.
Her opponent is the unbeaten Megan McLennan, a nurse at Christchurch Hospital who trains out of the Strikeforce gym.
The weigh-in was yesterday - but don’t expect Chalmers to engage in any verbal sparring.
‘‘That’s not really my style - especially when you’ve got such a big thing in common and you’re probably not going to see the other girl again - there’s no point in having any bad blood so I just let my fists do the talking.’’
As well as seven corporate bouts, John Parker - younger brother of WBO heavyweight champion Joseph - is fighting against Luke Oakes, while Queensland’s Jack Boote is scheduled to fight Shannon Hepi for the NZ Masters’ title.
The main event will pit James ‘The Pitbull’ Bishop against Bowyn ‘Boman’ Morgan over five three-minute rounds.
Chalmers said she was thrilled to be sharing the bill with some of her former Kiwi colleagues, while family, friends and even members of the Nelson Giants basketball team will be in the audience to cheer her on.
Her partner Liam Hutton - a rider for Josh Coppins’ Yamaha team - will be absent due to a motocross race in Rotorua.
‘‘It doesn’t matter- he’s going to livestream my fight and I’ll livestream his race during the day.’’
A light welterweight fighter, Chalmers is a nine-time ex-New Zealand boxing champion and New Zealand representative who switched to MMA in 2013.
She enjoyed instant success winning the New Zealand novice MMA under-60kg title and more recently the 2016 Princesses of Pain in Auckland.
Doors open at 2pm with the first fight starting at 3pm.