Canterbury boxers shine

Bowyn Morgan opened his professional boxing account with victory while fellow Christchurch professional Nort Beauchamp had the biggest win of his career.

Morgan beat Queenstown’s Martin Mech by way of technical knockout in the third of six rounds at the Hornby Working Men’s Club on Friday night.

His was the main event at Riverside Promotions’ Friday night fights event which also featured five corporate bouts.

Riverside Boxing Club’s Morgan had beaten Mech five times in the amateur ranks and again proved too strong.

He tagged Mech who received a standing eight count then the fight was stopped in the third round with Morgan well on top.

Beauchamp knocked down his opponent, Auckland’s Ben Sissam, but the resilient Sissam just kept on fighting. Beauchamp beat Sissam, the third ranked welterweight in the country, by unanimous decision after the fight went the six-round distance.

Christchurch’s Josh Hatherley, who was in his professional debut, beat another Christchurch fighter, Rob Sutherland. It was Hatherley’s first fight in three years since leaving the amateur ranks.

Ali Loto beat Peter Ahtong in a heavyweight contest and Tom Heads beat Elikana Sifi. Well, Joseph is ranked No 10 with the WBA.

‘‘I believe that this time next year Joseph will be ranked in the top 10 with the four major organisations and possibly even ranked in the top five with one of them.

‘‘That’ll be my goals for Joe next year.’’

Barry named three top-10 ranked boxers he is eyeing for Parker and said this fight proved Parker would beat WBO sixthranked Christian Hammer ‘‘tomorrow’’.

‘‘We’re looking closely at Bermane Stiverne, we’re also looking at Ruslan Chagaev, the WBA regular champion, so there are other fighters out there I would like Joe to fight.’’

Meanwhile, former Warriors league star Monty Betham believes his boxing career is finally over, despite showing he’s still got it in a third-round knockout of Carlos Spencer.

Betham wants to keep his wife happy after stepping back into the ring and doesn’t believe she’ll allow him another chance.

‘‘I managed to get it across the line this time,’’ Betham said.

‘‘It cost me a bathroom but never mind.

‘‘Like I said, happy wife, happy life. Hopefully she’ll be a bit more forgiving and let me go again but the phone’s got to call.

‘‘If the phone doesn’t ring, it means you don’t get an opportunity but I think me saying yes and the phone ringing are pretty distant now.’’

For Spencer, this was definitely the final time in the ring.

‘‘I’m happy with myself for jumping in there and giving it a go,’’ he said.

‘‘It was always going to be one of those one-off things. That’s the last time.

‘‘I’m done and dusted.’’