Lee Kara: NZ super heavyweight champion

Whanganui's Lee Kara claimed the WKA NZ super heavyweight title in Hamilton just after midnight on Sunday.

It was a bewitching hour for Awa Kings Muay Thai's Lee Kara as he managed to drag giant Aucklander Dave Tuitupou into deep waters to win the WKA New Zealand K1 super heavyweight title by split decision in Hamilton at around 12.15am yesterday.

As the 'Battle in the Waikato: Round 9' show was running very long due to last-minute card changes and technical issues with the group's livestream, Kara's main event fight against Arsenal ETK's Tuitupou, who towered over him at 2.04m and 150kg, didn't start until after 11.45pm.

In the opening rounds, Kara fought to survive as Tuitupou manhandled him into the corners and unloaded with some vicious leg kicks which hurt the Whanganui fighter but did not buckle him.

Kara had a hard time reaching the long range with his punches while Tuitupou lined up his ribs and abdomen with kicks and knee strikes, but the underdog stayed calm and focused as he absorbed the punishment of rounds 1-2.

Come the third round Tuitupou began to slow down and Kara caught him with punching combinations, pressing forward and pouring it on in the corner, with Tuitupou now trying to tie him up while also landing an accidental low knee.

The last two rounds were fairly even as Kara never stopped coming at Tuitupou - grappling, muscling and trying to land body shots, with both men slipping over at times from exhaustion.

It was anybody's fight as the result went to the scorecards, and ultimately it was Kara pressing during the last three rounds which swung the decision his way to obtain his dream of a New Zealand title belt.

His Awa Kings supporters broke into a haka before joining their club president in the ring.

"Little bit worse for wear, whanau," Kara said backstage on a live-streamed video, as ice was taped to his legs.

"It was easier taking it on the chin.

"Shout out, whanau, bringing the title home.

"Shout out to all my AK fans, all the AK supporters.

"That first round...hit me with a good right. I was a little bit dizzy."

Sharing in the celebrations was Assassin's Muay Thai Gym fighter Mike Makatea-Leylander, after a disappointing evening where he lost a close decision to Sam Watts (Warriors Muay Thai).

Preparations were thrown into disarray after Taupo's Jabez Collins did not make the 76kg weight for the four-man WKA Central tournament, with the promoters then removing Waikato local Robert Tawere so Makatea-Leylander could match Watts in a single title fight, yet still keeping the original three-round length instead of five.

Annoyed to miss the chance to compete in a tournament for the first time, Makatea-Leylander said on Facebook it took a round before he found his rhythm and range, with his rally then not enough to swing the decision.

"I came into this 4-man looking at him as my biggest threat.

"Better man won tonight. Till we meet again."