Boxing: Sullivan fighting for fourth title

By PETER JESSUP

Sean Sullivan's bid for a fourth New Zealand professional title headlines the Auckland Boxing Association's pro-am meeting tomorrow night.

Sullivan, who holds belts at welterweight (147lb), light-middle (154lb) and middleweight (160lb), will meet Samoan-born Fulu Schuster for the vacant super-middleweight title (168lb) in a 12-round bout.

In the other big match of the week, David Tua offsider Maselino Masoe meets Peter "Chief" Mokomoko in a professional bout as part of a pro-am card at Alexandra Park on Sunday.

The "Amazing" Masoe, retired by the Tua team as they concentrate on trying to resurrect the heavyweight's career, is still rated by Auckland promoter Mike Edwards.

Former Commonwealth light-heavyweight champion Phillip Kating's clash with two-pro winning West Aucklander Willie O'Neill at tomorrow night's meeting was cancelled after Vanuatu police objected to travel arrangements for Kating.

Kating is on parole after serving a jail sentence for manslaughter, andwas not allowed to travel because of fears that he might not return.

The superbly-fit Sullivan has not been put on the canvas since 1984, but has lost when going up in weight class.

He faces a tough task against Schuster, who has never been knocked out.

If Sullivan wins, he will become the first holder of four belts.

Former kickboxer Todd Kidwell meets Auckland Fiji-Indian Jen Pillay at lightweight and taekwondo practitioner Jimmy Jackson takes on Ken McKinnon, of Otorohanga, at light-middle.

For the Alexandra Park Park match-up, Masoe and Mokomoko return to the fray both aged 35. Masoe's record is 18-2 and Mokomoko 17-4.

It might be a good contest if the "Chief" can avoid Masoe's lethal right hook - 17 could not.

National pro lightweight champion Santos Pakau meets kickboxer David Gahan for eight rounds on the same card. Gerrard Zohs, three wins on the trot after his loss to Anthony Mundine, goes against Moroni Schwalger over six rounds at middleweight.

* New Zealand boxers are on track for good performances at next year's Manchester Commonwealth Games after a return of three golds, a silver and two bronze medals at the Oceania contest in Fiji, says national director of coaching Dr John McKay.

Daniel Codling won his bouts inside the distance for gold at welterweight and fellow Aucklanders Soulan Pownceby and Kahu Bentson won in the middleweight and light-middle divisions respectively.

Heavyweight Shane Cameron was unlucky to end with silver after an unusually high score was recorded by Samoan judges in favour of his American Samoan opponent.

Most disappointing were light-heavy Daryl Lichtwark, and super-heavy Paula Mataele who took bronze in a a below-par performance.

Wellington's Daniel Hedifen also won bronze, going out to the eventual gold medal-winning Australian champion by one point.

McKay said Oceania coach Phil Shatford, of Christchurch, did a good job with the eight fighters, and the team showed potential.

He hopes to take them to the Commonwealth championships in Sri Lanka in January and to arrange overseas bouts before and after the Oceania Games in Taupo in April.

New Zealanders winning at the next Oceania event will qualify for the Commonwealth Games.