Natalie Mackey stood in for her niece and kept the national open women’s lightweight Muay Thai title in the family at Te Ihi a Tū fight night at Gisborne’s Showgrounds Events Centre.
Mackey, 29, is the younger sister of Melissa Mackey-Huriwai, who coaches daughter Ishtar in Rangataua o Aotearoa (RoA)martial arts techniques.
Ishtar Mackey-Huriwai, 19, won the New Zealand open women’s lightweight title in Gisborne in March last year, following her appearance at the 2024 Paris Olympics in a Muay Thai demonstration event.
She was to defend her title against Kimi Falwasser of Rival City Mixed Martial Arts, Auckland, but popped her left shoulder in training three weeks before the fight night.
With the title bout expected to be one of the highlights of the evening, Ishtar’s aunt Natalie was asked to fight in her niece’s place, and the title would still be at stake as it was effectively vacant because of Ishtar’s injury. Natalie won a unanimous points decision over Falwasser.
Melissa Mackey-Huriwai said Ishtar’s shoulder had “popped out” in a clinch during training.
“She had an operation on it about three years ago,” Melissa said.
“Natalie had three weeks to prepare for the fight. It’s lucky she’s fit – she trains every day. She did more focused training for the last couple of weeks.”
Ravyn Simpson with the belt for the national open women’s featherweight Muay Thai title.
Another member of Gisborne’s Rangataua o Aotearoa martial arts club, Ravyn Simpson, 18, retained her national open women’s featherweight Muay Thai title with a unanimous points decision over Elleina Andrews of All Day Fitness Hawke’s Bay. Andrews was a late replacement for a fighter who pulled out two weeks before the bout.
Aronui Maidens, 14, lost a split points decision to Te Auepo Love-Henry of Tu Taniwha gym in Murupara in a “good, close battle” to be the first holder of the national female youth Under-54kg title.
“They had fought each other twice before, with a win apiece,” Mackey-Huriwai said.
The other feature bout was between RoA fighter Jada-Shay Pomana, 20, and Deanne Philpott of Elite Thai Kickboxing in Auckland for a vacant title. Philpott won a unanimous points decision.
Melissa Mackey-Huriwai said Pomana was off her game on the night, and had improvements to work on while back in Bali, where she has been training.
The 17 bouts in the fight night included two tag team matches contested by 12 participants from the RoA 12-week challenge for Muay Thai novices.
A sold-out crowd of about 500 saw action that started with the first bout at 5pm and finished with the last, just before 10pm.
Mackey-Huriwai said the organisers were grateful for the support of the community and sponsors.
Money raised will go towards club activities and help get fighters to overseas competitions. Fighters from RoA will compete at the Australian nationals next month and at the world championships in Bangkok, Thailand, in June.
Ravyn Simpson competed in the King in the Ring kickboxing event in Auckland at the weekend, sealing her win against Gabby Kane with a spinning backfist that forced an eight count.
