Boxing: Leutele's sister steals limelight

TAKE THAT: Shane Smith (left) scores with a left hander during his win against Fiva Latu on Saturday night. PHOTO/DUNCAN BROWN

MOVE over Kiki Toa Leutele ... younger sister Osana is poised to become the most high-profile boxer in the family.

"That's the plan but the start of my amateur career is going to have to wait until after my Mormon Mission which I will start early next year," 19-year-old Osana said yesterday.

Along with 2011 national youth super heavyweight champion Kiki Toa, who hasn't fought since last year, Osana is one of three boxers in their family of 11 siblings. Her fight with Hawke's Bay Tuis rugby halfback Gemma Woods was the best of the 15 during the Partners Life Hope 4 Whanau Fight Night in Taradale's Pettigrew-Green Arena on Saturday night.

While Osana's superior technique and composure were the keys to her victory, the gutsy Woods displayed plenty of heart as many in the 1100-strong crowd predicted she would.

"That was my first fight and only after two weeks notice. I've been training with dad [former Samoa champion and 1974 New Zealand Commonwealth Games triallist Rocky Leutele] for three years and I had hoped to make my amateur debut on three occasions this year but all three bouts were cancelled.

"Gemma fought in the manner I expected and I really enjoyed it," Osana said.

In addition to her boxing training she played "all the tall persons' sports - basketball, netball and volleyball - during her days at Taradale High School which ended last year. She pointed out the physicality associated with her part-time job at New Zealand Couriers which involves plenty of loading and lifting also helped with her preparation for Saturday night.

For log scaler Woods the bout, which like the rest on the night was fought over three two-minute rounds, was her second in three years.

"Osana was the better boxer ... she had the technique," Woods said. "I definitely want to continue in boxing and I'm hoping for another fight in March. Hopefully I can get an opponent around my height and weight ... Osana was 7kg heavier and a head taller."

The main men's bout saw Auckland-based former Eskview club rugby player Tamati Kemp beat Hawks basketballer Kareem Johnson. While Johnson displayed vast improvement during his five weeks of training and defended well Kemp produced more hard scoring punches.

Roller derby fanatic Rebecca "Blue Bell" Winikerei beat Hawke's Bay women's rugby administrator Kelly Bray in the opening bout. Other winners were Georgia Kirby, a daughter of former Magpies first five-eighth Dan Kirby, prison officer Stacey Mizzi, former Napier Technical premier club rugby players George Diack and Andrew "Squids" Urquhart, policeman Willie "The Terminator" Tran, Sharyn "The Shizzle" Scurr, Heath Clark, Sarah "Killer" Smith, Shane Smith, Stacy "The Beast" Bateman, Ryan Van Zonneveld and Cherylene "Chera Da Hero Hurae" Lawrence.

Organiser Jeremy Bateman, described the event, which was a fundraiser for the charity STAROS, a Hawke's Bay support group for people who have been affected by suicide, as "an amazing evening".

He expects to know later in the week how much money was raised.

"It will definitely exceed expectations," Bateman added.