An hyperextended elbow prevented River City Boxing Club's Egelani Taito from getting back in the win column in the main event of his club's fight night at the Kaierau Country Club on Saturday.
Looking to rebound after his loss in August, Taito was matched up against Napier's Derrick Taukeu, andinjured his elbow during an exchange of punches in the first round.
Both men had ducked in and out of the pocket, looking to get off quick jabs, with Taito being manoeuvred to the ropes but escaping, with the referee warning the fighters to punch.
Trying to gut out the injury in the second round, Taito scored with an overhand right, while getting off a couple of good counterpunches as Taukeu pressed forward, with the Hawke's Bay fighter going to the body.
Taito doubled up on his left hooks, while Taukeu landed a straight right before they tied up in the centre.
Whanganui's Egelani Taito takes on Napier's Derrick Taukeu in the main event.
One attempted uppercut in the clinch caught Taito low, requiring a long stretch to recover, and when he did the local fighter landed a solid counterpunch to move Taukeu back as he looked to go to work.
But the Whanganui boxer was struggling and after consultation with trainer Eddie Tofa in the corner, Taito did not come out for the third round, handing Taukeu the win.
The fight capped a solid night of 20 bouts inside the River City club's gym, with fighters coming from Rotorua, Hastings, Feilding, Palmerston North, Taranaki and elsewhere.
It was a tough evening for the locals, who were not able to get their hands raised. Chilli Palmer, 11, lost a split decision to hard-hitting Feilding fighter Simba Mashakada, 12.
Wanganui's Chilli Palmer, blue, takes on Feilding's Simba Mashakada at the River City Boxing Club's gym on Saturday evening.
Palmer stayed in there with Mashakada's bombs early, as the visitor looked to connect upstairs and down.
The local tried a quick start to round two, before Mashakada got in there with 1-2 combinations, while looking for the upper cut on the ropes, although he was starting to tire come the round's end.
It was a slug fest to start the last round as Palmer pressed forward, as Mashakada's volume of blows decreased but not the intention of the one's he did throw, able to push Palmer back with them and get the decision.
The story was similar for Josiah Albert, who lost a split decision to Waitara's Jesse Mahoney in a very entertaining scrap of 18-year-olds.
Mahoney was ready to throw from the opening bell, while Albert stayed on his guard, and after a quick stoppage to fix a loose head gear strap, the trading of jabs was cast aside in favour of a grapple fight.
Mahoney starting winging shots at Albert's head, who had to eat a few of them to get off some of his own at the bell.
Albert started the second round well with two clean jabs as Mahoney looked to press him, getting so worked up he was warned by the referee for trying a back fist punch.
Mahoney went back to his tough jabs, leaving Albert to tie him up, and they traded hooks at the bell with the scrappy Taranaki fighter again flinging a back fist.
Albert again got a good start to the final round, before Mahoney scored with a series of blows to keep the pressure on, as they tied up in centre ring.
Mahoney ducked under the jab and connected with body shots, as he swung away shortly before the bell to ultimately win the decision.
No judges were needed for Jahzia Pouhotaua's bout with Auckland's man-mountain Apelu Togia, who at 111kg had a 9kg weight and reasonable height advantage.
Pouhotaua, 16, started gamely as he moved forward and scored with combinations against his bulky opponent, but it was like hitting the side of a brick outhouse.
Togia waited for his shot and then he sent Pouhotaua back to the ropes with his power before unleashing a devastating hook and dropped the teenager.
Pouhotaua made his feet by the count of eight, but was very groggy and shaking his head, with the referee waving the bout off.
Club youngster Trinty Albert had a fun exhibition bout with fellow 11-year-old Naturene Rangiwha of Rotorua, with both girls showing some good skills and heart in their fight which is an automatic draw.
Rangiwha was further recognised with the Sportsmanship Trophy for the evening.
Whanganui's Judah Malcolm was scheduled to fight, however an ankle injury in training during the week did not come right by the evening's first bout and he was withdrawn.
