Stars get into swing of it
RISING NEW Zealand heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker had too much speed and power for veteran journeyman Richard Tutaki, scoring an impressive third round knockout victory in the feature bout of the Fight for Life promotion in Auckland last night.
Parker, touted as the next big thing, certainly showed his potential, mixing his body and head shots to completely dominate Tutaki.
The win kept the unbeaten after three professional.
Tutaki was disappointing, hardly firing a shot. He was down for the count late in the second round with Parker punishing him with some heavy body shots.
Parker finished the job a little under a minute in the third round with a series of blows to the head of the 34-year-old.
It gave the crowd the knockout they were deprived on the entertaining amateur card.
The rugby league boys dominated those bouts, winning 3-1 with the fifth bout drawn. But every novice was a winner in terms of their brave fundraising efforts for 20- year- old fights as a prostate cancer.
Paul Gallen showed why he’s regarded as the toughest man in the NRL as he thumped All Blacks hooker Hika Elliot.
Elliot, a karate black belt who has dabbled in kickboxing, talked a good fight in the leadup to this clash, declaring his seeking a knockout.
He entered the ring with no lack of showmanship but it was Gallen who walked out of it with a deserved unanimous points victory.
Carlos Spencer claimed a victory for rugby with a unanimous decision against Jarrod McCracken that resembled a bar room brawl.
McCracken didn’t touch gloves at the start of the fight, instead ripping into Spencer who withstood the salvo and then slowly but surely took control in a torrid affair.
Golden Olympic rower Eric Murray received a standing ovation heading into the ring. No one wanted to take on Manu Vatuvei but Murray stood tall. He didn’t have the punching power to trouble a dominant Vatuvei but he lasted the three rounds, losing a unanimous points decision.
Former All Black Rene Ranger was his own worst enemy in his majority points loss to Aussie league star Greg Bird.
Ranger was deducted two points for clubbing an unguarded Bird in the second round, when referee Lance Revill was halting things
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Ranger attacked Bird, who wasn’t wearing head gear, relentlessly in the third round but couldn’t land the knockout blow needed to make up lost ground.
Willie Mason and Troy Flavell fought a draw in the last amateur contest.
Daniella Smith, the standout Kiwi women’s professional fighter, set herself up for another world title shot with a unanimous points win over Australian Lauryn Eagle.