A win closer to Olympic boxing dream

PACKING A PUNCH: Gisborne boxer Tawhirimatea Toheriri-Hallett is on a Tokyo Olympic Games mission. His win against an Australian national title-holder at the Anzac Super Series has boosted that ambition. Picture by Liam Clayton

Gisborne teenager Tawhirimatea Toheriri-Hallett has taken a major step towards a 2020 Tokyo Olympic boxing dream after winning his bout at the Anzac Super Series in Auckland.

Following a unanimous decision win over Australian national welterweight champion Kyle Swanepoel, Toheriri-Hallett was named in the Boxing New Zealand development squad.

The 18-year-old, who fights in the 69-kilogram division, was a convincing winner over three two-minute rounds.

Toheriri-Hallett dropped Swanepoel in the second round with a body shot for a standing eight count.

“I caught him with another good shot for a second eight count and then went for the third eight count, which automatically ends the fight, but the bell saved him.

“I knew I had the fight won so boxed smart in the third round,” said the Gisborne City Hit Pit Boxing Club member, who has been fighting competitively for four years.

“After the fight I was given a new Zealand development T-shirt, which is awesome. Now that I’m in the squad I want to cement my place, with the goal being to box at the Tokyo Olympics.”

Toheriri-Hallett gets the chance to consolidate his development squad position in September when the Kiwis cross the Tasman for a rematch against their Boxing Queensland counterparts, who narrowly won the Auckland clash.

Toheriri-Hallett, whose career highlights include Golden Gloves titles in 2015 and 2016, was not the only Gisborne boxer involved.

“We had two other fighters from the club boxing — Alhaji Sherriff (63kg) and Mya Kahukoti (60kg),” said Gisborne City Hit Pit head coach Jim Kahukoti.

“Alhaji won unopposed, which is not the way he wanted to win. Mya lost on a split decision. This was the first time all three had represented New Zealand and I’m sure it won’t be the last.

“Tawhirimatea has the potential to go a long way. He has the skill, discipline and attitude. He works hard in training at the YMCA and in the ring.”

Wellington-born Toheriri-Hallett moved to Gisborne when he was 11. He attended Manutuke School and Gisborne Boys’ High, and was a prefect last year.

“My uncle, Karsin Toheriri, was a boxer and he used to take me into the shed and have me throw some punches at the bag,” said Toheriri-Hallett. “He encouraged me to have a go and I loved it.

“I joined the boxing club when I went to Boys’ High and now I’ve won New Zealand titles, qualified to be part of the NZ development squad, fought in Oceania champs and against Australia.”

When asked what was his strength as a boxer, Toheriri had a surprising answer.

“You have to be willing to get hit in the ring. I know that sounds crazy but if you’re not willing to get hit, you won’t have the confidence to go into the ring.

“I try to hit my opponent more than he hits me but you still need to be able to get hit.”

Toheriri-Hallett knows that if he is to succeed as a boxer he has to make sacrifices.

“Training takes up a lot of time and energy. The conditioning is probably the worst part — training five days a week, running miles, skipping, sparring, punching the bag and the pads.

“But if you’re not disciplined, prepared to make sacrifices and work hard, you won’t make it.”

Kahukoti, who is in the process of building a full-sized ring, said the club owed a huge debt to Janelle Dixon-Smith and the staff at the YMCA for their support.

“They’ve been brilliant.”