Boxing: Adesanya ready for redemption

Israel Adesanya is searching for his own kind of redemption in Christchurch this weekend. Photo / Getty Images.

Israel Adesanya is searching for his own kind of redemption in Christchurch this weekend.

The Kiwi combat sports dynamo has been installed as the second favourite with the bookies for the eight-man cruiserweight knockout tournament that is part of the next Super 8 boxing card on Saturday.

Adesanya is an experienced kickboxer and has also fought in MMA but he wasn't happy with his professional boxing debut at the previous Super 8 event on the North Shore in November.

The 25-year-old drew Australian bruiser Daniel Ammann (30-8-1) in the opening bracket of the tournament - which features eight fighters meeting over three three-minute rounds until a champion emerges - but lost via unanimous decision.

All three judges scored the contest 29-28 in favour of Ammann who went on to lose the semifinal to eventual champion Brad Pitt. Adesanya (0-1) said he would give a better account of himself on Saturday night at an event that has been promoted with the tagline of 'Redemption'.

"I plan on doing the same redemption thing myself from the performance last time; I just feel like I could have done better," Adesanya said.

"I look a lot different than I did in the first one. I feel stronger, I'm faster, my technique's a lot nicer but the main thing is just my knowledge of boxing. I've taken a lot from different avenues."

Adesanya was due to complete his final heavy day of training today before resting for the final few days before the tournament.

He has sparred with many of champion trainer Lolo Heimuli's charges at City Boxing in Auckland as part of his 12-week training camp whereas he only had a fortnight to prepare for the last event.

"I was ready for this three weeks ago. I had even more time to add some details to my game," he said.

American Brian Minto, a former cruiserweight world title challenger with a 39-8 professional record, has been listed as the $1.50 favourite to win the Super 8 with Adesanya at $3, while Ammann is the third-favourite at $7.50.

The rest of the field includes Kiwis Lance Bryant (3-1), Asher Derbyshire (7-1) and Monty Filimaea (10-11-1), the Fijian-based Joseph Kwadjo (21-8) and Samoa's Farani Tavui (4-0).

The Super 8 fight night, which takes place at Horncastle Arena, will be headlined by a cruiserweight bout between New Zealand-trained Samoan Vaitele Soi and Australian Anthony McCracken.

McCracken (17-7-1) will put his regional titles - the WBA Pan African belt, the WBO Asia Pacific title and the OPBF strap - on the line against Soi (24-1). McCracken won the titles when he knocked out Kiwi David Aloua (11-2) at the previous Super 8 card.

Auckland heavyweight prospect Hemi Ahio (4-0) will fight big American Clarence Tillman (11-19-2) in a four-round undercard scrap.

Former Warrior Monty Betham (6-1) will meet Englishman Adam Hollioake (2-1) over four rounds in a cruiserweight bout. Cricketer Jesse Ryder will meet blogger Cameron Slater in a celebrity fight.