Kamo girls to box in Tahiti

Whangarei Boxing Gym's Kaylah Munday and Deanne Carpenter are off on an all-expenses trip to fight at a tournament in Tahiti next week.
Trainer Tim Bowman was approached by organisers to source two female boxers of certain weights, and the 15-year-old Kamo High students sprang to mind, he said.
"These two girls started boxing with me three years ago," Bowman said. "This trip came out of the blue and I think they really deserve to go. They turn up to training and are committed to what they are doing."
Bowman and his two charges leave for Tahiti next Wednesday to prepare for July 9, when the two girls will go up against Tahitian opposition - on a card featuring 10 fights.
Carpenter will enter the ring fighting in the 64kg class, while Munday will line up in the 70kg weight division.
Bowman was confident the duo would lift for the occasion - they were excited and motivated to perform against two unknown Tahitian counterparts, he said.
"We are not really sure what to expect over there but I am confident they will do well. They have been training really hard.
"Kaylah had been a bit sick with the flu and was out for a couple of weeks.
"She was unfit, so we have upped the training and have been doing a lot of running to get her fit again," the trainer said.
The tournament will be ideal preparation for the pair, who will be part of Bowman's contingent heading to the New Zealand Boxing Championships in Wellington during September.
Although it is a few months off yet, the more fights the girls have under their belts before the nationals, the better.
Because Bowman does not want to risk the girls getting injured before the tournament in Tahiti, they will not compete at Whangarei Bowing Gym's annual tournament this Saturday, at Hora Hora Rugby Club, starting at 6pm. They may do an exhibition round, however.
About 15-20 fights will be on the card, depending who turn up on the day and weigh in.
"Usually there is a good turn-out - with boxers coming up from Te Awamutu, Te Aroha, Hamilton and Auckland along with locals," Bowman said.
The host gym will have three novice fighters in the ring on Saturday, including Jarra Swan, 18, who will fight in the 69kg weight class, with 17-year-old Ra Tahi May fighting in the 62kg class and 13-year-old Te-Wairua Hiku in the 45kg class.
Entry to the tournament is $15 per adult and $5 for children.