Boxing: WBO belt strikes chord with teen

KIWI CORNER: Amateur boxer Sam Nicol gets a feel for the WBO heavyweight boxing belt at Burger King Hastings yesterday with the help of mother Andrea. PHOTO/Warren Buckland

SAM NICOL picked up the WBO world heavyweight boxing belt, strapped it around his waist and shaped up for the camera in Hastings yesterday.

The 15-year-old from Napier then declared New Zealand professional Joseph Parker's corner will be left holding up the gold-plated, Swarovski crystal-encrusted prize when the dust settles after his bout with American Andy Ruiz Jr at the Vector Arena, Auckland, on December 10.

"I reckon he'll [Parker] win it," said Nicol at Burger King Hastings where the belt was on display for fans to promote the fight.

Duco Events corporate liaison manager Greg McCalman said it was the first professional world belt of any description, including division, to grace the shores of New Zealand.

Nicol, a Year 10 pupil from Napier Boys' High School, said Ruiz Jr also was an energy-sapping pugilist who packed a sledgehammer-like punch, so it should be a humdinger of a fight.

"I think Joseph just needs to use his reach, speed and everything else he has to his advantage to win it."

Having touched and worn the belt yesterday, the grinning teenager from the Hastings Giants Boxing Academy disclosed he was harbouring dreams of one day lifting a world title himself, although it wouldn't be a heavyweight one.

"Hopefully one day I can realise that dream in the bantam or welterweight division," says Nicol who fought in the 46kg division of the National Open Golden Gloves in Brisbane in August and is now waiting for his trainer, Craig McDougall, of Giants academy, to sound out another promotion in the country in January or February next year.

"Just watch that space," said mother Andrea Nicol, of Taradale, of her son who has gained weight to push the scales to 52kg after a change in eating plans as well as a regimented strength and conditioning programme.

McCalman said the turnout to view, photograph and get a feel for the belt was a story in itself.

"The interest is unbelievable," he said after snaking his way down from Hamilton, Tauranga and Rotorua, after the "priceless" unveiling in Auckland.

McCalman yesterday headed off to the other side of the gorge to Palmerston North, Wellington and Nelson.

Today he will take in Christchurch and Invercargill before heading to Dunedin and New Plymouth tomorrow. The belt will be in Whangarei on Monday.

"The reason we're going right through the country is because we know the interest is there. We know that all this will translate into support for Joseph Parker on the night."

McCalman said if Parker prevailed he would become the first New Zealander to claim a world crown.

"It'll be great for Joseph Parker and also great for New Zealand."

While nothing is in concrete, a victory would mean the Parker camp would be able to defend the title here.

"If we can get a Vladimir Klitchsko or Anthony Joshua or someone like that down here challenging Joseph for a title how great would that be?"

He saluted Samoa for coming to the table with US$100,000 ($141,000) to help fund next month's fight.

"They [Samoa] will probably get three times that much in benefits and Samoa will be portrayed as a tourist destination throughout the fight."

McCalman said it was a regal opportunity for the New Zealand Government and the Auckland economic and tourism arm to tap into but they turned it down.

"They were in and then they were out. It's disappointing but we'll keep moving forward and we're really happy to have Samoa on board so come end of the fight we hope they'll
be very happy with their investment."

Parker, he said, would arrive in Auckland on Sunday morning with trainer Kevin Barry from Las Vegas.

"It'll be his last week of sparring. He's in a real good space and he's up for it.

"As far as Joe's concerned, this time in three weeks, he'll be the WBO world heavyweight champion. He's convinced of that."