The Northern Advocate

Now in a new stable, the world champ is looking for action

-

KBOXING

Mike Dinsdale

aitāia’s world boxing champion Mea Motu will step back in the ring next month and she’s hoping that it puts her on the path to another world title fight.

Motu successful­ly defended her IBO super-bantamweig­ht world title against India’s Chandni Mehra at the Wahine Toa II boxing in Whangārei in December in a brutal display.

Pukepoto’s own Motu (Te Rarawa and Ngāpuhi) will take on Thailand’s Noppaket Srisawas at ABA Stadium on April 26.

Peach Boxing stable has unfortunat­ely been forced to end its working relationsh­ip with Dean Lonergan at D&L Events after Lonergan lost his financial backers. Due to this, Peach Boxers is now signed with No Limit Boxing under Matt and George Rose.

The good news is great things are coming. However, it means we will be seeing fewer of these boxers fighting in New Zealand, the gym said.

Motu is seeking to unify her world title, hopefully in July as she begins to venture for mega fights in Australia and the UK.

But the downside to greatness is that her next fight could be her last fight in New Zealand, and what better place to have that fight than where it all started for her, at the ABA Stadium.

Motu has had a successful 2023 by winning and successful­ly defending the IBO World title, overcoming the odds of broken ribs, dislocated shoulder and asthma. But the year ended perfectly with a sold-out show in Whangārei.

Motu will be taking on Thailand 20-year-old boxer, Noppaket Srisawas. Srisawas has an impressive record of 7-1-0 with the only loss to Australian boxer Enja Ryan last July. She has an amateur boxing background with the highlight of her amateur career reaching the quarterfin­als of the Youth Men’s and Women’s World Boxing Championsh­ips 2021. This fight will be a nontitle fight as this is to keep Motu prepared for the future mega fights in the UK.

The undercard of the fight night will showcase Isaac and Alina Peach’s up-and-coming boxers including Sonny Morini, Erin Walsh, Emma Nesbitt, Dylan Archer and Oliver Firth.

Possibly Motu’s last ever fight in New Zealand will be at ABA Stadium on April 26 and will be live on CSN.

For more info: peachboxin­g.co.nz

 ?? Photo / Michael Cunningham ?? Kaitāia’s Mea Motu, here punching her way to an IBO super-bantamweig­ht world title defence against India’s Chandni Mehra at the Wahine Toa II boxing in December, will be back in the ring next month - possibly for the last time in NZ.
Photo / Michael Cunningham Kaitāia’s Mea Motu, here punching her way to an IBO super-bantamweig­ht world title defence against India’s Chandni Mehra at the Wahine Toa II boxing in December, will be back in the ring next month - possibly for the last time in NZ.
 ?? ?? Mea Motu showcases her culture when walking to the ring in her IBO superbanta­mweight world title defence in Whangārei in December.
Mea Motu showcases her culture when walking to the ring in her IBO superbanta­mweight world title defence in Whangārei in December.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from New Zealand