A Kerikeri teenager won a Golden Gloves title over the long weekend.
Under coach Rusty Porter, 14-year-old Blake Hodges turned in the best result of the four fighters representing the Kaeo Boxing Club (KBC) at this year's North Island Golden Gloves championships which saw 77 bouts taking place over two days in Taupo.
Hodges fighting in bout No 45 on the second day of the event, Sunday, beat the only other contender in the novice junior 54kg division - Kanaan Meehan of Meehan's Gym, Palmerston North in all three rounds to secure a North Island Golden Gloves championship for himself and the club.
The first KBC fighter to get in the ring in the sixth bout of the event was Kerikeri 26-year-old James Jevons fighting in the seniors 75kg class - the same as Kahukura Bentson - against Blake Henderson from Woolston Gym, Christchurch. With the score 8-all after the three rounds, a countback as required where the winner was decided as being whoever was ahead at the end of the second round which was Henderson. There were four fighters in this division.
Next up in bout 52 of the event was 14-year-old Rangi Rakena of Kerikeri who took on Jim Walsh of Central Rotorua Boxing Gym in the novice junior 66kg division on Sunday. Rakena lost on points 10-7. "Didn't get busy enough," said coach Porter bluntly.
The very next fight, bout 53, saw Joe Williams from Ahipara fight in the open grade (for boxers who've had 10 fights or more) in the 70kg division against Terry Amon of Central Rotorua Boxing Gym. Williams lost 18-11 on points. While Porter was rapt with Williams potential, he held reservations about the performance.
"Joe didn't really box, went out to brawl. It was an entertaining fight. 'If you were a professional ...' I told Joe. 'You will never knock him out in a 100 years' but he kept trying to."'
Rusty Porter thanked all the parents that came down. He also noted Kahukura Bentson who lost his division at the event later announced his retirement on the night after 200 fights.
Photo by Nearly ThereThe photos accompanying the article were provided by Allen Ure who with friend Chris Mitchell was preparing to run the length of New Zealand in February 2013. The pair will start the 2000km run at Bluff and finish at Cape Reinga.
The pair, who have been running together since early 2008 and have completed various distance runs - including half marathons, marathons, ultra marathons and mountain runs - expect to take approximately 65 days based if they average of 30-40 kilometres a day. Aside from the personal goals, they will raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association of New Zealand and hope to motivate others to run.
Photos from this and all other fights on the night were provided by www.nearly there.co.nz (visit the website to view more images from the night or see accompanying article for more details).