Boxer Francis Waitai books Max Reeves bout on Tim Tszyu undercard for WBO belt

Francis Waitai is the WBA Oceania super middleweight champion – his fourth professional boxing title. Photo / CSN.Watch

WBA Oceania super middleweight champion Francis Waitai, of Hauraki, has been booked to take on Australian fighter Max Reeves in April.

The fight will take place in Australia, on a Tim Tszyu undercard.

Waitai’s WBA Oceania title is currently not on the line, however, Waitai and Reeves will fight for the vacant WBO Oriental super middleweight title.

Many boxing legends from New Zealand have held the WBO Oriental title in the past, with the last one being Joseph Parker in 2021.

Other legends to have held the title include David Tua, Shane Cameron, David Light, Junior Fa (interim), Gunnar Jackson, Robert Berridge and Daniel MacKinnon.

Waitai already fought for the title in 2023, against Wuzhati Nuerlang in the light heavyweight division, but the fight ended in a draw.

Since then, Waitai has been on a five-win streak, winning the IBO Asia Pacific and WBA Oceania super middleweight titles.

Reeves is a two-time Australian national super middleweight champion, who currently holds a record of 12 wins, 1 loss, 1 draw.

Reeves’ only loss was against New Zealand-born Australian resident Tonga Tongotongo, who defeated Reeves by sixth-round stoppage, winning the IBO youth light heavyweight title.

Apart from the one loss, Reeves has had an excellent career so far, winning against opponents like Frenchman Sonny Abid, NSW state super middleweight champion Abdul Abdulrahman, ANBF Australasian super middleweight champion Riley Candy, Australian boxer Joe Corner, and Queensland state light heavyweight champion Leo Grant.

Reeves is currently ranked 83rd on Boxrec, above Waitai at 89th.

The upcoming fight is a significant title that has shot all New Zealand boxers into the top 15 of the WBO rankings.

Both Waitai and Reeves are at the point in their careers where they have to start stepping up and fighting tougher opponents.

It is a make-or-break fight, as a loss for either of them will mean it could take another three years to get back to this point.

The event on April 5 will be streamed live on Amazon Prime.

Benjamin Watt is a retired boxing judge and New Zealand boxing writer with a decade of experience. Watt has also been BoxRec’s New Zealand record-keeper since 2014.