Whanganui Chronicle
  • Whanganui Chronicle home
  • Latest news
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Residential property listings
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology

Locations

  • Taranaki
  • National Park
  • Whakapapa
  • Ohakune
  • Raetihi
  • Taihape
  • Marton
  • Feilding
  • Palmerston North

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

Weather

  • New Plymouth
  • Whanganui
  • Palmertson North
  • Levin

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Whanganui Chronicle

Boxing: Big night of fights at the River City Boxing club

By Jared Smith
Sports Editor·Whanganui Chronicle·
3 Nov, 2019 04:22 AM6 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

    Reminder, this is a Premium article and requires a subscription to read.

A bloodied Heinrich Burgstaller squares up to Taupo's Jayden Ball in the main event of the River City Boxing Club's November tournament on Saturday evening.

A bloodied Heinrich Burgstaller squares up to Taupo's Jayden Ball in the main event of the River City Boxing Club's November tournament on Saturday evening.

It was visitors 4 and locals 2 at the River City Boxing Club's annual November fight night on Saturday after another packed fight card at the Kaierau Country Club gym.

Ultimately, 24 amateur bouts were held between boxers from around 20 North Island clubs, slightly down from the originally planned number when the contingent of fighters from one of the Auckland clubs withdrew.

That meant River City's top prospect Egelani Taito had to miss out and so acted as cornerman for his clubmates.

Heinrich Burgstaller therefore stepped up to the main event against the tough Taupo fighter Jayden Ball, the two-time Golden Gloves heavyweight champion, who was angling himself towards a battle with double Commonwealth Games gold medallist David Nyika.

Boxing in the longest format for E Grade with three rounds of three minutes, Burgstaller had a strong first round, but succumbed to Ball's power in the second as he was put down to a knee twice, prompting his corner to throw in the towel.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Burgstaller started with good movement, handling Ball's opening hooks well, then getting through with a straight jab, before letting off a couple of hooks of his own as they grappled on the ropes.

Three body shots by Burgstaller was met with a counter hook by Ball, who moved back as the local fighter followed him until the bell.

Likely behind on the scorecards, Ball upped his aggression in the second round, and while it was rudimentary, it was certainly effective as a couple of winging shots caught Burgstaller on the side and top of the head, staggering him.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Going down to a knee, Burgstaller took a standing eight count, with his nose bleeding, and Ball came back with his heavy hands to blast the local with two more hooks, again sending him to a knee and making his corner decide that was enough punishment.

Earlier in the night, the referee called an early stop to Pheenyx Apiata-Cook's debut fight against the taller Emery McGill from the Velocity club in Hokowhitu.

Discover more

Entertainment

What's on in Whanganui this week? November 7-13

06 Nov 03:00 PM
Pheenyx Apiata-Cook throws a jab at Velocity's Emery McGill in a bout that was stopped early.
Pheenyx Apiata-Cook throws a jab at Velocity's Emery McGill in a bout that was stopped early.

A C Grade bout with three rounds of 90 seconds, McGill overwhelmed Apiata-Cook early with his hand speed, getting straight through the gloves with a series of combinations to earn a standing eight count.

The battering continued as McGill scored with perhaps 30 punches in the first round, compared to 5-6 in reply.

Staying on the balls of his feet in the second round, McGill continued to snap off jabs, although Apiata-Cook showed courage, getting some counter blows in, but was still outmatched.

Into the third round and a quick-fire McGill jab, uppercut and hook created another opening and poured it on to get another standing eight count, at which point the referee had seen enough.

Putting the first win on the board for River City was Cypress Atkins-Manukau, who earned a unanimous points decision over Rotorua's Hunter Hay in their C Grade matchup.

Cypress Atkins-Manukau looks to slip the jab in his victory over Rotorua's Hunter Hay.
Cypress Atkins-Manukau looks to slip the jab in his victory over Rotorua's Hunter Hay.

Both of these fighters stayed up on the balls of the feet in an exhibition of movement and sniping jabs, with Atkins-Manukau moving back to the ropes and looking to counterpunch during an even first round.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Hay tried long jabs from distance, with Atkins-Manukau ducking back and moving out of range before setting himself for a return volley, although by the end of the round he had started to slow, warned by the referee for letting the mouthguard hang out.

Hay pressed Atkins-Manukau towards the ropes early in the third round, which was countered with hook punches, while Hay got off a good straight shot and counterpunch of his own.

Possibly needing something, a tiring Atkins-Manukau found the wind for a late flurry, moving forward and pounding away on Hay on the ropes for a good flurry at the end of the fight, getting the nod from the judges.

Not quite so lucky was the debuting Jacovi Woods, who lost a majority points decision to Coastal Boxing's Cormach Hughson-How in their Y Grade matchup of three rounds of two minutes each.

Debuting Jacovi Woods jabs at Coastal Boxing's Cormach Hughson-How, who won the majority decision.
Debuting Jacovi Woods jabs at Coastal Boxing's Cormach Hughson-How, who won the majority decision.

Having the height advantage, Woods countered a pressing Hughson-How with an overhand punch and solid jab, then blocked hooks to counterpunch again.

After a ref warning for lowered heads, Hughson-How moved Woods back to the ropes, where he ducked and avoided most of the punches but got caught near the end of the round.

Needing to comeback, Hughson-How increased his urgency and came on strong with the jabs, loosening Woods headgear, and continued to pursue him around the ring.

The pace had to slow, and after squaring up, Hughson-How scored with two shots before the bell, with a hook from Woods in reply.

Recognising the scores were likely close, both young men came out for a big exchange to start the final round, Woods going to the body, before they again grappled on the ropes.

A Woods hook was met with a Hughson-How uppercut, with both fighters continue to trade shots along the ropes to the final bell, after which Hughson-How received the narrow decision.

There was a similar story for Majre Apiata-Cook, who lost a majority decision to Rotorua's Graeme Peni in their J Grade bout.

Majre Apiata-Cook connects on Rotorua's Graeme Peni in his narrow points defeat.
Majre Apiata-Cook connects on Rotorua's Graeme Peni in his narrow points defeat.

In what was becoming a trend for the locals, Apiata-Cook had the better of the first round, being on the balls of the feet and throwing shots to the head and body, while ducking under Peni's jab to score some more.

But coming into the second round, Peni countered some hooks and connected with body shots of his own, increasing his volume of jabs and Apiata-Cook had to cover up, before coming back towards the end of the two minutes.

It was coming down to the final round, with Apiata-Cook coming on with hooks, and the action twice needed a pause to wipe blood from Peni's nose.

Peni gave as good as he got, as Apiata-Cook began to tire noticeably and moved away, being pursued as Peni threw more wild punches at the bell, ultimately getting the nod from two of the three judges.

Trinity Albert was able to get a win back for River City when she earned a unanimous decision win over Taupo's Julia Tatupu in their C Grade bout.

Chasing Tatupu into the corner, Albert's best flurry of the first round was right before the bell, getting two hooks.

Short hook combinations were again the order of the day in the second round, with Tatupu aiming for the head then body, with the referee warning both about rabbit punches at the end of the round.

Being urgent, Tatupu rushed in with quick jabs to start the final round, with Trinity countered, before both girls traded blows in the centre of the ring.

Falling forward with her punches and getting hooks in reply, Tatupu had a bloodied nose before the finish, with Albert getting the win to make up for a close split decision loss at last year's event.

Also on the card, River City Boxing Club's Isabella Parkes and Maddie Buckridge boxed in exhibition bouts.

Photo Gallery

Rivercity Boxing Club tournament at the Kaierau country club:
Pheenyx Apiata-Cook (red) vs Emery McGill
Saturday, November 02, 2019 Whanganui Chronicle photograph by Bevan Conley.
Rivercity Boxing Club tournament at the Kaierau country club:
Pheenyx Apiata-Cook (red) vs Emery McGill
Saturday, November 02, 2019 Whanganui Chronicle photograph by Bevan Conley.
Rivercity Boxing Club tournament at the Kaierau country club:
Cyprezz Atkins Manukau (red) vs Hunter Hay
Saturday, November 02, 2019 Whanganui Chronicle photograph by Bevan Conley.
Rivercity Boxing Club tournament at the Kaierau country club:
Cyprezz Atkins Manukau (red) vs Hunter Hay
Saturday, November 02, 2019 Whanganui Chronicle photograph by Bevan Conley.
Rivercity Boxing Club tournament at the Kaierau country club:
Majre Apiata-Cook (blue)  vs Graeme Peni
Saturday, November 02, 2019 Whanganui Chronicle photograph by Bevan Conley.
Rivercity Boxing Club tournament at the Kaierau country club:
Majre Apiata-Cook (blue)  vs Graeme Peni
Saturday, November 02, 2019 Whanganui Chronicle photograph by Bevan Conley.
Rivercity Boxing Club tournament at the Kaierau country club:
Jacovi Woods (red) vs Cormach Hughson-How
Saturday, November 02, 2019 Whanganui Chronicle photograph by Bevan Conley.
Rivercity Boxing Club tournament at the Kaierau country club:
Jacovi Woods (red) vs Cormach Hughson-How
Saturday, November 02, 2019 Whanganui Chronicle photograph by Bevan Conley.
Rivercity Boxing Club tournament at the Kaierau country club:
Heinrich Burgstaller (red) vs Jayden Ball
Saturday, November 02, 2019 Whanganui Chronicle photograph by Bevan Conley.
Rivercity Boxing Club tournament at the Kaierau country club:
Heinrich Burgstaller (red) vs Jayden Ball
Saturday, November 02, 2019 Whanganui Chronicle photograph by Bevan Conley.

Image 1 of 10: Rivercity Boxing Club tournament at the Kaierau country club: Pheenyx Apiata-Cook (red) vs Emery McGill Saturday, November 02, 2019 Whanganui Chronicle photograph by Bevan Conley.

Save

    Share this article

    Reminder, this is a Premium article and requires a subscription to read.

Latest from Sport

Sponsored Stories

Rugby: Ruapehu, Marist Knights vie for Senior title

10 Jul 05:00 PM
Sponsored Stories

Rugby: Kaierau and Taihape set for championship showdown

10 Jul 05:00 PM
Whanganui Chronicle

Kaierau end Border’s reign, secure finals spot

07 Jul 05:00 PM

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Sport

Rugby: Ruapehu, Marist Knights vie for Senior title

Rugby: Ruapehu, Marist Knights vie for Senior title

10 Jul 05:00 PM

The women's final features the defending champions Taihape against Marist.

Rugby: Kaierau and Taihape set for championship showdown

Rugby: Kaierau and Taihape set for championship showdown

10 Jul 05:00 PM
Kaierau end Border’s reign, secure finals spot

Kaierau end Border’s reign, secure finals spot

07 Jul 05:00 PM
Club rugby: Seniors and women set for semifinals

Club rugby: Seniors and women set for semifinals

03 Jul 05:00 PM
Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Whanganui Chronicle e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Whanganui Chronicle
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • NZME Events
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP