Boxing: NZ boxers dominant in PNG

New Zealand boxers enjoyed a red letter day at the Oceania championships in Papua New Guinea yesterday.

All seven fighters in action advanced to the finals of the regional tournament.

The most outstanding performance was provided by Joe Blackbourn in beating Australian No 1 Gerard O'Mahoney by a split decision in their semifinal.

The Hutt Valley welterweight lost the first round but then piled on the pressure and didn't allow the 2004 Olympian to settle into any rhythm.

Blackbourn produced his best in the last round when he hurt the Australian with a huge body shot.

Super heavyweight Greg Weenik beat Australian champion Steven Rudic for the second time in less than a month.

After taking a two-point decision at last month's Arafura Games, Weenik appeared to win ever round in their semifinal.

Light heavyweight Soulan Pownceby and heavyweight Lance Bryant made short work of their opponents.

Pownceby will get the opportunity to defend his Oceania title after demolishing the Fijian No 1 inside two rounds to reach the final while Bryant was equally dominant over another Fijian.

Manager Paul McSharry was ecstatic, saying a "new era of New Zealand boxing may have arrived with New Zealand looking to have the best team at the Oceania event".

"There is a real team culture evident with each boxer not wanting to drop a decision and thereby let the team down."

New Zealand semifinal results:-

Welterweight: Kahukura Bentson bt Fiji No 2 after referee stopped contest in round two, Joe Blackbourn bt Gerard O'Mahoney (Australia) in spilt decision.

Middleweight: Emmett Gradwell bt PNG No 1 on points, Justin Potter bt Fiji No 1 on points.

Light-heavyweight: Soulan Pownceby bt PNG No 1 after rsc in round one.

Heavyweight: Lance Bryant bt Fiji No 1 on points.

Super-heavyweight: Greg Weenik bt Steven Rudic (Australia) on points.

- NZPA