Matamata fighter Alex Mukuka will return to the professional boxing ring in October.
The Commonwealth Games representative will fight Christchurch’s Dominic Reed in Taupō.
Mukuka, a four-time New Zealand national amateur champion, was last in the ring in May when he defeated Whangārei’s Ross Malthus by unanimous decision in TeAwamutu.
Mukuka previously said his ultimate goal was to become a world champion, but before that can happen he has a long road ahead of him, including winning a New Zealand title and a major regional title from one of the four main sanctioning bodies.
Meanwhile, Reed is a Muay Thai world champion (ISKA World Muay Thai Super Featherweight) and a veteran of martial arts with over 60 fights across various combat sports codes.
In boxing, he has fought Nort Beauchamp and Michael Reynolds, two of the best in his weight division in New Zealand.
Reed has not had much success in boxing, however, his kickboxing experience still presents a significant challenge.
The Mukuka versus Reed bout is the title fight in a wider boxing event that is expected to have a total of six professional boxing fights, as well as amateur and kickboxing fights.
Two Taupō boxers, Kyle Mereweather – who has not fought in the professional ring since 2023 – and Cole Campbell, who will be making his professional boxing debut, will be featured on the card.
Other boxers featured include Michael Tauiti, who will fight Sila Siufanga, and Stacey Loye, who will take on Karen Te Ruki Pasene.
The event, promoted by Nigel Elliott, will take place at Great Lake Centre on October 11.
It will be the first time Taupō has hosted a professional fight.
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.
