Boxing: Ritani-Coe eager for action

Brice Ritani-Coe and Alonzo Butler at the Super 8 press conference. Photo / Jason Oxenham

Kiwi boxer Brice Ritani-Coe has had enough of sparring and wants his chance in the ring.

The Las Vegas-based heavyweight works with some of the world's top fighters to help them prepare for their upcoming bouts and while it helps pay the bills, he hasn't been able to secure many of his own opportunities of late.

His last fight was against Joseph Parker in California a year ago and he still remains the only person to have taken the South Aucklander the distance when Parker took a unanimous-decision victory from their six-round affair.

Ritani-Coe has also dabbled in MMA, where he has a 3-2 record, and has trained with UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez and undefeated light heavyweight contender Daniel Cormier.

His 1.88m, 118kg frame and deceptive speed for a big man make Ritani-Coe an ideal sparring partner, while he has also fashioned a 3-2-1 record as a professional boxer.

Ritani-Coe came back to New Zealand in March for the first time since 2008 when he faced up to outstanding charges of cultivating cannabis and failing to appear in court.

Given the nature of the charges, he was never extradited from the US and received 150 hours community work when he appeared in Manukau District Court but with that out of the way he can focus on fighting.

He has been given a wildcard for Wednesday's Super 8 boxing tournament in Auckland and will meet American Alonzo Butler in the first round.

"This is like a dream come true because I never thought I'd be able to come back to New Zealand, let alone fight in New Zealand," Ritani-Coe said.

"So this is kind of like a fairytale that I get to fight on such a huge stage for my welcome home fight."

The Super 8 tournament, which has a $500,000 purse, is headlined by former heavyweight world champion Hasim Rahman and features eight fighters who have been paired off and will meet each other in three three-minute rounds with an eventual winner being crowned.

"I really do feel like I can take the whole tournament out," Ritani-Coe said. "My power's there, I punch just as hard as everyone else. I've got a better chin, I feel like I can take their best shots and they can't take mine. So I'm going to go out there and go hell for leather and try and knock people out or just out-work everyone."

Ritani-Coe will have veteran fighter Ray Sefo in his corner at the Super 8 and Sefo has deep knowledge about the complexities of an eight-man tournament from his days on the kickboxing circuit.

The field is littered with fighters who are in the latter years of their career. Rahman is 41, Kiwi Kali Meehan is 44, Ireland's Martin Rogan is 43 and Englishman Michael Sprott is 39.

And, it wouldn't be a boxing event without a bit of trash talk and Ritani-Coe, 28, took his chance to throw a barb at the tournament's elder statesmen.

"It's just irresponsible at their age to be hopping in an eight-man tournament. They should be doing yoga classes or something."

Ring the bell, we are ready to go.