Boxing: Elder-Holmes wins comfortably

Millie Elder-Holmes easily won her Fight for Life bout. Photo / Dean Purcell

Millie Elder-Holmes enjoyed a resounding victory in her Fight for Life bout against Frankie Adams last night.

Elder-Holmes, boxing on the under-card of the Joseph Parker v Irineu Beato Costa Junior main event, won the three-round fight by unanimous decision. The judges awarded her every round.

In front of a host of celebrities, including Wallabies star Israel Folau, All Blacks Liam Messam and Tawera Kerr-Barlow, and Warriors Manu Vatuvei and Konrad Hurrell, Elder-Holmes charged forward from the opening bell and kept Shortland Street star Adams on the back foot throughout.

She raised her hands in triumph after the final bell before hugging Adams, to large cheers from the audience of about 5000.

Asked afterwards how she had managed to dominate the taller and younger Adams, Elder-Holmes, 26, said: "Just work."

"The fitness was definitely good to focus on."

Fighting in memory of her partner Connor Morris, who died following a confrontation in West Auckland in August, Elder-Holmes went on the offensive from the start, throwing both left and right hands. She probably took the first round due to her work-rate, but 20-year-old Adams, fighting on the counter, landed the heavier punches.

The second round was all Elder-Holmes, and her superior fitness was beginning to show. She caught the back-peddling Adams with some heavy punches with both hands. Elder-Holmes finished with a flourish, leaving the judges in no doubt.

Asked if she would do it again, she said: "Maybe, one day."

Adams, who made the 68kg weight last night following some doubt about whether she would make it, had few answers to Elder-Holmes' onslaught, saying afterwards: "She was a really good opponent."