Kickboxing: Girls N Gloves taking off

Whangarei mum Amy King will be one of the fighters at tomorrow's Girls N Gloves event at ASB Stadium. Photo / Michael Cunningham

Whangarei's all-girl kickboxing event is reaching new heights.

It's the third annual Girls N Gloves event tomorrow and Roundhouse Gym owner and organiser Simon Haenga says the event is growing hugely each year.

"This is the first time we've had corporate tables," he said.

"This year we had over 50 girls wanting to fight. This is our biggest card - initially we had 23 fights, now with injuries there are 18 or 19."

Fifteen Whangarei girls will be fighting in the event, with four or five from further North, paired with opponents from gyms across Auckland and Northland.

For most of the women it's their kickboxing fight debut, he said. A number of them are also petite fighters.

One of those fighters is Whangarei mother Amy King, who will be stepping into the ring for the very first time tomorrow, after doing kickboxing for less than a year.

In that year, she's managed to shed over 20kgs. "We call her the poster girl, who inspires all the newbies," Haenga said.

As well as fights there will be entertainment from a local dance crew, DJ, prizes, food and a bar.

It kicks off at 12.30pm tomorrow at the ASB Stadium, Western Hills Drive, Whangarei.

Tickets are available from Roundhouse Gym, and there will also be door sales.

Read about Amy King's journey in tomorrow's Northern Advocate.