Latta expecting tough battle in national championship fight

Featherston kick boxer Sue Latta is expecting a tough battle when she takes on Mary Herlihy of Porirua in a national championship title fight at Taupo on July 23.
The two met twice in the ring well over a decade ago with Herlihy winning on both occasions.
Since then Latta has gone on to win a world super welterweight title in November 2002 while Herlihy, who lived for a time in Masterton, has mainly focussed on raising a family.
Their clash at Taupo will be for the national 68-72kg championship, which disadvantages Latta because is able to fight in the under-67lkg class.
But she believes the weight difference will be countered by the fact that ring-rustiness will probably affect Herlihy more than her.
Latta hasn't had a kick boxing bout for three years but she did enter the ring again in April of this year, but for boxing not for kick boxing.
She fought Aucklander Danielle Smith as part of the undercard to the David Tua v Talmadge Griffis professional contest, losing on a controversial points decision.
Latta worked hard to get herself in peak physical conditions for that appearance and she says that should be in her favour when she returns to kick boxing against Herlihy.
"I wouldn't say I'm as fit as I need to be right now but the base fitness is there and that's a big plus," she said. "It's just a case of getting stuck in and building up the workload over the next few weeks."
Latta recalls Herlihy being a tough competitor who adopted an aggressive approach and she anticipates nothing different at Taupo.
"It'll be a very physical fight, neither of us will be waiting for the other to make the first move,' she said.
Once through her engagement with Herlihy Latta will concentrate on preparing for the world kick boxing championships to be held in Thailand about the middle of August.
She will be hoping for better luck in that respect than last year when an achilles injury suffered in a training session just a few days before he championships meant she was unable to fulfil her commitments.
Latta did still travel to the 2004 world championships though as New Zealand team manager, and watching the action there made her determined to be part of it a year later.
"The worlds have to be everybody's main aim and, fingers crossed, I"ll be competing there this year," she said.