Boxing: Ahio added to Super 8 card

Kiwi heavyweight boxing prospect Hemi Ahio. Photo / Getty Images.

Exciting Kiwi heavyweight boxing prospect Hemi Ahio will meet Clarence Tillman on the undercard of the next Super 8 fight night in Christchurch later this month.

Ahio, who is 4-0 as a professional, has looked impressive during the early stages of his career given he has no amateur background in the sport.

The 24-year-old, a regular sparring partner of Kiwi UFC heavyweight Mark Hunt, has tremendous power in his fists and notable hand speed.

Tillman (11-19-2) is a 37-year-old journeyman who was knocked out in the first round by the code-hopping Sonny Bill Williams (7-0) in Hamilton in 2012.

Ahio has signed a promotional agreement with Sky Arena and they're taking a cautious approach with their man who will likely feature on multiple undercards across the country this year.

Getting him rounds in the ring will be vital given he spent no time in the amateur ranks.

He has finished three of his four professional bouts inside the first frame.

"Hemi's just an exciting fighter. He's a crowd-pleaser," Sky Arena matchmaker Mark Keddell said. "He's just something else to watch. He's got a certain style that I think is very customer-friendly."

At 1.96m, Tillman represents a tall challenge for Ahio who will give up height to the Auckland-based American in the four-round bout.

"I don't think he performed that well against Sonny Bill but Clarence is a very good fighter," Keddell said.

The Super 8 fight night, which takes place at Horncastle Arena on Saturday, March 28, 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) on the North Shore in November on the previous Super 8 card.

An eight-man cruiserweight knockout tournament, featuring Brian Minto (39-8) and New Zealanders Lance Bryant (3-1) and Israel Adesanya (0-1), among others, will also be part of the card in Christchurch.

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