Tomorrow's Rumble in Vegas tournament has benefited from a national surge in boxing, says event organiser and Rotovegas Boxing Gym head coach Aaron Warren.
As one of the first major tournaments of the year, the Central North Island Boxing Federation-affiliated event has been inundated with trainers trying to get theirfighters on the card. The oversubscription forced Warren to cap the number of bouts at 27.
"The sport is growing nationally," Warren said. "I have got over 120 nominations and I have only got 54 fighters who can fight. People are still ringing me to put their nominations in."
Fighters from as far away as Christchurch and Auckland's North Shore have put their hands up to be a part of tomorrow's event at Rotorua Intermediate School.
Despite the large number of fighters on the card, Warren insisted quality not quantity would be at the fore with 12 national title-holders - including four Rotorua fighters - displaying their skills.
"I am expecting there are going to be some amazing bouts," Warren said.
Of the local hopes, Warren pointed to heavyweight fighter Troy Collins as one holding particular promise.
"Troy has been very consistent. He's been with me for about 14 months and lost about 10 to 15kg," Warren said.
"He didn't initially come to fight. He came to do fitness, but he's elected to fight."
Meanwhile, the major bout on the bill will be in the light-heavyweight division where Taranaki's Sam Ripira (Box Office Gym) will take on Luke Searle of Christchurch's A-Town Gym.
Before the marquee fight, both Ripira and Searle will have each faced another opponent - Searle takes on three time national light-heavyweight champion Zigzag Wallis, of Te Awamutu.
* Doors open at 2.30, with bouts starting at 3pm at Rotorua Intermediate School. Entry costs $10 an adult, children 14 and under $5, and under-5s free. br>
