Boxing: From street fights to Fight Night

Hemi Ahio fights Alipati A'asa tonight. Photo / Getty Images

The purple-grey five centimeter scar on Hemi Ahio's chest sits a little left of centre, closer to breastbone than his nipple. Not all that far from his heart, really.

"They put one in me," the 25-year-old Aucklander who would be New Zealand's second genuine heavyweight prospect says of the stab wound. Ahio headlines the Mahindra Super 8 Fight Night, an intriguing card also featuring two four man tournaments, a Monty Betham title shot and a heavyweight battle between league stars Paul Gallen and Bodene Thompson.

With tonight's event likely to attract a decent audience due to the fact it is free to SKY subscribers, tonight's NZNBF title fight is Ahio's coming out party. Three years ago it was just another street fight on just another South Auckland day, the way Ahio tells it. A bunch of dudes approached him and asked where he was from. He said 'Mangere', a mistake given he was in Otahuhu at the time.

"They came over and one guy threw a punch. Another guy came, I thought he came to throw a punch, but he stuck the shit in me. I looked down and was like 'oh'. There were about six of them. I got two of them. The rest ran. I think they saw the blood running down. That scared them off more than anything."

Ahio had been waiting for a bus. Because he was covered in blood, he chose to walk home, crying. When he got there his mother sat him down and treated the wound with a concoction of soap and sugar.

"What's the science behind that?" he laughs. "Maybe that's what they do back in the Islands?"

Auckland born to Tongan parents, Ahio is quite a character. He's not, however, a classic case of a guy who decided to hone his fighting skills after being menaced on the street.

Truth is he wanted to join the army but failed the English test. He sat around home getting drunk for a bit before his uncle marched him into a gym to meet Lolo Heimuli, the legendary Auckland trainer whose charges include MMA star Mark Hunt.

With no amateur background, Ahio was green as they come. But he could hit. Heimuli has ridden him hard. Keep hitting and you'll see your full potential, he tells Ahio.
"I'm not able to see any of that shit, I just come and do it."

So far, so good. Ahio is 8-0 with six K.O.s. He'll be should enhance that record tonight [Tuesday] against All Samoan champ Alipati A'asa, who turned out to be a fair bit shorter than the 1.90m Ahio was expecting. Officially 6-0 with four K.O.s, A'asa has had at least two unsanctioned bouts (both victories) that aren't on his resume. He also had over 50 amateur bouts, but he weighed in at just 93kg - 14kg lighter than the muscular, power punching Ahio.

Super Eight Fight Night

(Tonight, Sky City Convention Centre)
• Hemi Ahio v Alipati A'asa (NZNBF heavyweight title)
• Monty Betham v James Langton (NZNBF cruiserweight title)
• Paul Gallen v Bodene Thompson
• Four-man light heavyweight tournament featuring Robert Berridge and Reece Papuni
• Four-man cruiserweight tournament featuring King of the Ring kickboxing champion Israel 'Style Bender' Adesanya