Kara wins crack at NZ kickboxing title

Whanganui Muay Thai fighter Lee Kara's unanimous win in Morrinsville at the weekend gives him a shot at the New Zealand super heavyweight kickboxing title in September.

Whanganui martial artist Lee Kara has earned a crack at the New Zealand World Kickboxing Association super heavyweight title after his unanimous victory in Morrinsville on Saturday.

The Whanganui-based Awa Kings Muay Thai Club president won all three rounds of his K1 kickboxing bout against Tiasi Sheck from the Arsenal ETK gym in Auckland on the card of the Impact Fight Night #2 in Morrinsville on Saturday.

The event was originally scheduled as a four-man contender tournament, but when two pulled out late in the piece due to injury it was left up to Kara and Sheck to fight it out to qualify for the super heavyweight challenge.

Kara now qualifies to fight for the NZ World Kickboxing Association super heavyweight title in September against David Tuitupo who currently has the North Island and Central District WKA titles.

While not surprised by his Morrinsville win, the 30-year Mars Petcare shift worker felt a little rusty in the ring.

"I did feel a bit rusty. I hadn't been in the ring for 10 months," Kara said.

"I did a bit of research on the guy (Sheck) and he is more of a boxer, so I decided to wack away at his legs to wear him down. The plan worked and I managed to win all three rounds."

Kara appeared to have total control throughout the bout and that was reflected in the unanimous decision going his way.

"I hope to get another fight in before the title fight, but if I don't I'll just have to wear it.

"Tuitupo is big. He's 6ft 9in (2.04m) and weighs in around 150kg. I'm not that tall and my fighting weight is 110kg. Super heavyweight is 95kg and over.

"I'll be doing a lot of training before September, but I really need to thank my trainer Lee Ashford and boxing coach Ivan Lacy as well as all my sponsors and supporters for helping me get this far," Kara said.

The title fight is in Hamilton on the Battle in the Waikato Round 9 card in September.