Boxing: Blackbourn gives Kiwis a winning start

Team captain Joe Blackbourn gave New Zealand the perfect start to the Commonwealth boxing championships at Liverpool in England on Tuesday (NZ time).

New Zealand's highest-ranked boxer, welterweight Blackbourn beat Fundo Mhura of Scotland 18-10 on points in an impressive performance on the opening day.

Blackbourn trailed by a point at the halfway stage of the four-round bout before piling on the pressure. He snuck ahead 11-10 after three rounds before unleashing seven unanswered scoring blows through the final round.

New Zealand coach Billy Meehan said Blackbourn's performance had provided his team with an inspirational start to the championships.

Meehan said the Hutt Valley fighter used sharp jabs, overhand rights and good inside combinations to frustrate the taller Scot.

Te Awamutu light heavyweight Zigzag Wallace was to fight on Wednesday morning (NZ time).

- NZPA