River City Boxing Gym trainer Eddie Tofa has been training the entrants since December. Photo / Bevan Conley
River City Boxing Gym trainer Eddie Tofa has been training the entrants since December. Photo / Bevan Conley
The River City Boxing Association will host its first corporate boxing event next month, with members of the public set to do battle in the ring after completing a 12-week training camp.
Money raised from the event will go towards the costs of running the 2021 New Zealand NationalBoxing Championships, which will be held in Whanganui in October for the first time in 68 years.
River City Boxing Gym trainer Eddie Tofa, who has been putting the entrants through their paces since December, said 21 bouts were already scheduled for March 26, with eight of those featuring female boxers.
"We've got a policewoman from Tokoroa, a social worker from Opunake, a couple of workers from Sanson, five people from Palmerston North, and a fella from Auckland," Tofa said.
"There's been interest from everywhere, everyone wants to have a go.
"There were heaps of people left over, and I had to tell them that not everyone would get on the card. There'll be another one though, now we know that so many people are interested."
Tofa said all the boxers were paired with someone of similar age and weight, and the bouts would consist of three two-minute rounds.
Full protective gear is compulsory for all the fights, and Tofa himself is refereeing each contest.
"We started sparring right after Christmas," Tofa said.
"Everybody's been putting their hands up and, at the end of the day, we as human beings don't want to lose, we don't want to come second.
"If you enjoy the night, that's the most important thing. It's about you conducting yourself in the ring, and outside of it afterwards.
"I just want everyone to come out and say 'yes, I did it'."
Tofa said while the age limit was originally set at 40, there would be one bout featuring two boxers in their mid-50s.
"The funny thing is, they're the same weight as well. It worked out really well.
Income from the event will help the River City Boxing Association host the 2021 New Zealand National Boxing Championships in Whanganui. Photo / Bevan Conley
"I wanted to make sure that not only are opponents the same weight, but they're around the same age as well. You don't want to put a 30-year-old in with a 40-plus-year-old.
"It was a bit of a challenge, but we got there in the end."
All the people who signed up to the event were complete novices, Tofa said, with fighters weighing anywhere from 64kg to 140kg.
"Everyone was brand new and didn't know anything about boxing.
"It was a bit hard at first for me to put some skills into them, especially when we started the sparring sessions.
"They were a little scared, and I had to say 'you know you signed up for boxing, ay?'
"They'd say 'I don't want to hurt anybody', but if they don't hit someone, that someone's going to hit them, very hard."
Another challenge facing the boxers will be the 800-1000 or so people who are set to fill Springvale Stadium on fight night.
"All of a sudden, people are thinking 'how am I going to fight in front of that many people?'" Tofa said.
"I just said I'd put a blindfold on them, no worries.
"Being in the gym is all right because your mind is still relaxed, and everyone is doing their own thing. That all changes when you walk out and see that many people.
"That's part of boxing though, and I reckon everyone will be all right on the night."
Tofa said a limited number of tables were still available for the River City Boxing Association's corporate event at Springvale Stadium on March 26.
