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Home / Hawkes Bay Today

Boxing: Big night for Bay pair as titles beckon

By Shane Hurndell
Sports reporter·Hawkes Bay Today·
5 Oct, 2018 11:00 PM4 mins to read

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Hawke's Bay boxers Toa Leutele (left) and Beau O'Brien will be all out to make history on home turf tonight. Photo/Duncan Brown

Hawke's Bay boxers Toa Leutele (left) and Beau O'Brien will be all out to make history on home turf tonight. Photo/Duncan Brown

How much is the home crowd advantage worth to Hawke's Bay professional boxer Toa Leutele?

The question had to be put to him in the buildup to tonight's bout against Wellingtonian Cory Enoka at the Corporate Contender event in Taradale's Pettigrew-Green Arena.

"I'm fighting in front of family, friends and supporters. I don't want to lose ... two titles are up for grabs too," Leutele replied.

He was referring to the vacant Universal Boxing Federation's Asia Pacific and New Zealand Professional Boxing Association's heavyweight titles. The fight is scheduled for eight three-minute rounds.

Leutele, 24, has had three trips out of the Bay to get suitable sparring partners as part of his preparation in recent weeks.

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"I've had some good sparring and I'm feeling pretty fit. I'm pretty confident but at the same time I need to bring my A game on the night," Leutele said.

He admitted knowing little about Enoka apart from the fact he had a good background as an amateur fighter.

Enoka has moved up to the heavyweight ranks after winning multiple national cruiserweight titles.

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Leutele will be having his first fight since winning an eight-man heavyweight eliminator competition in Melbourne in July.

An indication of how serious he is was the fact he took yesterday and Thursday off from his day job as a kerbside recyclist for Green Sky Waste Solutions.

Tonight's event promoter Scotty Thomson said if Leutele beats Enoka he will have the opportunity to fight Aucklander Junior Fa for the New Zealand heavyweight title.

Joeseph Parker, Shane Cameron, David Tua and Sonny Bill Williams are among the fighters who have held this national title.

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Thomson also confirmed if Leutele won opportunities could open on the American and Asian circuits. Does Leutele have a preference?

"It would depend on what I got offered ... but it's a great opportunity," he replied.

Leutele's Napier Boxing Club clubmate and fellow professional Beau O'Brien will fight Tauranga-based four-time national champion Gunnar Jackson for the vacant middleweight titles from the same two organisations.

This bout is scheduled for 10 three minute rounds.

Like Leutele, O'Brien, 27, has been chasing sparring opportunities throughout the North Island in recent weeks.

"I've had 15 sessions in the last three months including sessions against the top amateurs in Hastings. Everything has gone beautifully ... I'm ready," O'Brien said.

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"I've watched videos of Gunnar. He's definitely beatable but it will be a tough fight."

O'Brien boasts a professional record of six wins, a draw and a loss. Jackson, 32, has recorded 27 wins, 12 by knockout, 11 losses and four draws.

In 2014 he took on four-time world champion and former State of Origin rugby league star Anthony Mundine and lost by a unanimous points decision.

"Obviously this fight will be a huge step up for me. But I've done everything possible with the aim of getting the win and if I can it will open up so many potential fights for me particularly on the American circuit," O'Brien said.

The bouts involving O'Brien and Leutele will be the first international professional boxing title fights to be staged in the Bay.

In addition to the two professional bouts, nine corporate fights scheduled for three two-minute rounds involving Hawke's Bay fighters as well as boxers from throughout the lower North Island will be staged.

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Thomson pointed out these corporate fighters are regular boxers, unlike those who train for charity bouts.

"They don't want to be amateurs but they don't consider themselves ready to go professional but fight regularly."

The card

Katie Hatton (Napier Boxing) v Kelly Brock (Gisborne); Ripeka Dwyer (Highlander Boxng, Napier) v Lana McCarthy (Palmerston North); Callum Aldiss (Wellington) v Paraire King (Palmerston North); Nina Houston (Napier Boxing) v Stacey Loye (The Lab, Napier); Dom Leiataua (Highlander Boxing, Napier) v Tabai Tumanako (Lion Pitt, Wellington); Miriata Callaghan (Gisborne) v Tania Barnett (Palmerston North); Elliot Sharp (Wellington) v Nathan Birch (Tauranga); Tommy Harrison (Napier Boxing) v Gerhard Van Vuuren (Wellington); Junior Alivale (Highlander Boxing, Napier) v Charlie Rudd (Kapiti Boxing, Wellington); Toa Leutele (Napier Boxing) v Cory Enoka (Bellview Boxing, Wellington); Beau O'Brien (Napier Boxing) v Gunnar Jackson (Tauranga).

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