SHANE HURNDELL
For the second consecutive year the Excessive Force Fight Night at Taradale's Pettigrew-Green Arena was a Josh Maloney show.
Last year Maloney, 20, stole the limelight when he had massive crowd support on his way to an unanimous points decision win against an opponent who had a 20cm height advantage
and a 4kg weight advantage.
On Saturday night, Zero Tolerance fighter Maloney was involved in what organiser Miriam Crouch described as another "David and Goliath" battle.
After his original opponent withdrew Maloney took on Wanganui's Kyle Gallagher in a 75kg modified muay thai fight.
Despite giving 30cm away in height Maloney won with a third round technical knockout.
Another highlight for the host gym was 17-year-old Ngeri Tareha winning his second fight out of the novice ranks. Tareha beat Wanganui's Jamie Baker in his 66kg amateur modified muay thai bout with an unanimous points decision.
"That's two wins from two for me since I left the novice ranks. My previous one was when I was with Jackals. I couldn't be happier and I can't wait for my next fight which is likely to be in January," said the Bins R Us and Ngapera Transport-sponsored Tareha.
"This is my No.1 sport now," added Tareha who has dabbled in rugby and league in the past.
Zero Tolerance fighters won seven of the eight bouts where results were recorded. Damien Gray lost his 85kg amateur modified muay thai bout by a split decision to Aucklander Joseph Trevan.
A side triangle choke saw Zero Tolerance's Easton Nicholas win the feature fight - a 77kg mixed martial arts fight against BJ Bland of Palmerston North.
Experienced Zero Tolerance women's fighter Nicole Kavanagh won her 73kg modified muay thai fight against Wanganui's Jaymee Kawau by a second round technical knockout.
Five novice bouts which featured eight Hawke's Bay fighters proved the future of the sport in the Bay is bright. Other Bay gyms represented were the Underground Fight Club, Kairakau Muay Thai and Lee Gar Hawke's Bay.
