Life Ed's Boxing for Life a hit

FIGHT FOR LIFE: Jenny 'Joseph' Parker ducks a strong right from Michelle 'The Savage' Lamb. All pictures by Brennan Thomas @StrikePhotography

Life Education Trust was the winner at the Fight for Life Ed charity boxing event last night. To support the cause, boxers from red and blue teams fought in nine, two-minute fights made up of three rounds.

A warm-up bout fought between red team fighters Tom Purcell and Bannon Moore saw the bigger and taller Purcell dominate the fight but Moore proved a plucky contender.

In the second judged fight of the evening, Survivor’s hit Eye of the Tiger from the movie Rocky 3 accompanied red team contender Craig “The Crusher” Morrison’s entrance.

His opponent Roger “The Demon” Devon’s ferocity was so intense, the blue team boxer’s shoe flew off.

The bout paused briefly as Devon refitted the shoe. He charged back in but his red team opponent’s controlled technique and stamina gave him the win.

In fight three, Gisborne Herald reporter Kayla “Notorious KJD” Dalrymple’s accurate left hand strikes earned her new respect and possibly a little fear in the newsroom but red team opponent, Tambo “The Rambo” Gooch was announced the winner by unanimous decision.

Blue team member Daniel “Strong” Willock lived up to his ring title and bloodied Khan “The Killah” Walsh’s nose in fight five. Strong was also announced the winner by unanimous decision but his opponent was gracious in defeat.

“He smashed my face in a bit,” Walsh said with a grin.

Police officer and blue team member Jandy “The Patutahi Punisher” Solomon seemed an even match with teacher and mother of seven, Orohena “The Beast” Brightwell.

The crowd goes wildThe crowd, as they say, went wild as the two women went head-to-head in one of the most unrelenting bouts of the evening. Brightwell won the fight in a split decision. Overcome with emotion, she dropped to her knees at the announcement.

“My partner suddenly passed away at the young age of 33,” she said in the programme notes.

“Life Education reflects the same values my partner had and is the perfect charity to give back to.”

Patricia “The Terminator” Walsh, who has fought her way out of a past of gang violence, poverty and crime to help other women create change for themselves, was exemplified by her commitment in the ring. In a split decision, red team contender Alana “Unleash the Beast Mode” Nepe dominated however.

Coaches took a different approach to this year’s event, Fight For Life Ed head trainer Alan “Hogi” Hogarth said.

Fight For Life Ed contenders’ technique was more tailored and fighters were matched as closely as possible in terms of weight, age, physical ability, determination and courage.

“It is not a matter of being the biggest, fastest or strongest,” Hogarth said.

“It is more about you as a person.”

Physiotherapist Theo Poizat worked behind the scenes to maintain the boxers’ physical and mental health.

Coaches were determined their boxers would have a good experience in the ring, Hogarth said.

“We wanted them to have a positive, life-changing experience.”

Funds raised from the packed and sharply-dressed audience will go to charity organisation Life Education’s efforts to provide children with the knowledge to make informed choices in their lives.