Boxing: Super six take gold in south

Six appears to be a lucky number for Rotorua boxing coach Aaron Warren, after his fighters returned from the South Island Golden Gloves boxing tournament with six gold medals.

Warren, the head coach at the Rotovegas Boxing Gym, took his son Ricaia Warren, David Faataape, Te Arahanga "Boy boy" Takahi, Karenga Bennett, Moana Tahuriorangi and Summer Lake to the South Island tournament for the experience and was overjoyed with the results.

"They were the South Island's best fighters and that's why we went there. But our boxers were [tactically] a little bit smarter and fitter and came away with the perfect results."

Warren said it was the boxers' first tournament of the season and they had been training hard leading up to the event held in Christchurch at the weekend.

"They've been training four to five days a week, putting in the hard yards and I'm proud of what they've achieved."

Ricaia won the under-70kg junior male division.

"He had a lot of comments after his final from the judges, about his technical ability. Overall he listen well [to his corner] and came away with a good victory."

David's win in the 80kg junior male division was a good result for the youngster, who has spent the past couple of years boxing in Auckland.

"With his experience with over 50 fights it was good to have him back in the club," Warren said.

In the 57kg junior male division, Te Arahanga was all class, Warren said.

"He was awesome. He has worked hard for the last few months.

"His parents have moved to Aussie but he wanted to stay back and keep fighting.

"Its really paid off for him with this win."

For 18-year-old Karenga Bennett her fight in the elite 75kg class was a great result Warren said.

"She dug deep and shed a lot of weight going into this competition and she showed a lot of skill in her fight."

In the junior female 54kg class, 15-year-old Moana had to overcome a huge hurdle in her win.

"She stepped up, she had to fight a girl three years older and a lot heavier. Moana was very determined and [won] every round," Warren said.

Although Summer's medal was uncontested the 16-year-old sparred three rounds with one of the South Island's top female adult fighters. "Her opponent said she hadn't been hit so hard and said it was a real tough three rounds."