By Peter Jessup
The New Zealand and Oceania heavyweight boxing titles go on the line in this country for the first time in two years when Auckland pro Toakipa Tasefa takes on American Tony "TNT" Thomas at the Sheraton next month.
Niuean-born Tasefa (his moniker shortened to just Kipa) has successfully held
both belts in fights in Australia and Japan and should relish the opportunity to show his home crowd what he can do at the head of a six-fight card that also includes world-ranked middleweight Anthony Bigeni.
Kipa is the only full-time professional boxer resident in New Zealand. His days are filled by early-morning runs, weights work in the middle of the day, ring work in the late afternoon, a half-marathon on Saturday and only Sundays off.
Manager Mike Edwards declared him in top shape, having got over a twinge in his knee, and keen for the match-up with Thomas, aged 26, who comes with a record that reads 18-5-7.
Kipa's last defence was against giant Nigerian Okhelo Ishimurri in Japan three months ago. He sat the 1.93m veteran down four times and won a unanimous points decision.
After that fight Kipa moved up to No 70 on independent world boxing ratings that consider all fighters in all associations, federations and councils.
As a measure, David Tua's last opponent, Gary Bell, is ranked 100 on that list.
Before that, Kipa beat Australian Justin Fortune with a second-round KO in a rematch of the fight where he picked up the then-vacant Oceania title. He won the New Zealand title from Lindsay Christensen two years ago.
He had fought around the world as an amateur and achieved a No 3 ranking after two years in Venezuela learning from Francisco Martinez, who now helps to train him in New Zealand.
Edwards is confident he has a good boxer on track for what should be a hard bout with the tough and big-punching American from Los Angeles on Sunday, September 5.
If he wins, there is a whisper that he will defend the title again later in the year against Jimmy "Thunder" Peau, who is reportedly moving to Australia after several years on the pro-boxing round in Los Angeles and Las Vegas.
