Boxing: Victorious Sullivan now looking to Britain for fights

By PETER JESSUP

Sean Sullivan will look overseas for a better payday, and is talking to Jonah Lomu's manager, Phil Kingsley-Jones, about opportunities in Britain, after securing his fourth New Zealand pro belt.

Sullivan was in good shape yesterday after his 12-round slug-out with the heavier Fulu Schuster for the previously vacant super-middleweight title at the Auckland Boxing Association gym on Thursday night.

The 32-year-old Sullivan, who also holds the welterweight, light-middleweight and middleweight belts, dedicated his history-making win to his father, Gil, who died in April. He was a long-term lover of the sport who brought Sean and his older brother, Marty, into it.

Sullivan said he was not sore, and felt on top of the world because he had achieved the objective of doing it for his Dad. He gave away nearly 1.5kg to Schuster but knocked the bigger man down twice to win a unanimous points decision.

After several forays to Australia, Sullivan is now looking further afield for the chance to fight on a bigger card.

Only four others have held three New Zealand professional titles. The most accomplished was Artie Hay, who in 1930 had the welterweight, middleweight and light-heavy belts. He went to Australia with hopes of going further, but was destroyed in three rounds by its champion, Jack Haines, and retired to refereeing, still in possession of his New Zealand titles.

Oamaru's Stan Jenkin picked up the same three belts starting in 1937 and owning all by 1940. He died in the ring in a fight against Vic Caltaux.

Roy Stevens form Kaikohe won the middleweight, light-heavy and heavyweight titles between 1945 and 1958. Timaru's Eddie Parker also held those belts at various times between 1923 and 1926.

Tomorrow, the man who sparred Schuster up to the Sullivan fight, Maselino Masoe, will try to resurrect his career. He needs a solid performance against Peter Mokomoko at Alexandra Park to prove he has still got it.

Masoe has not fought since December last year, when he was beaten in the United States. The middleweight has been to three Olympics for American Samoa, and is 20-18, with 17 knockouts.

Mokomoko is 17-4, but last had an impressive knockout of Oceania champion Hubert Gobrait in Noumea.

That belt is not on the line in their 12-rounder, but the vacant Pan Asian one is.

Kickboxer David Gahan reckons he can knock over New Zealand lightweight champion Santos Pakau inside their scheduled eight-rounder.

Gahan was in the corner when Pakau won on points over another kickboxer, Jarud Aboruin, this year.

He was injured at the time, says his trainer, Philip Lam, but decided he would challenge Pakau himself.

Also on the pro list is New Zealand middleweight champion Gerard Zohs against former top-ranked amateur Moroni Schwalger.

Four amateur bouts precede the pros. Tokoroa Gym boxers Ricky Simons at 55kg, Daniel Evans and Sons Tautau at 76kg and Koni Peao at heavyweight will meet Pakaurangi Gym, Onehunga, opponents Mike Brown, Jimi Strong, Willie Fatu and Paul Tui respectively.