Parson fights for recognition

Wanganui's Pete Parson lands a kick on sparring partner Richard Hood ahead of Saturday night's River City Rumble. Photo/Supplied

Wanganui's multiple New Zealand karate champion Pete Parson has traded in his karate gi for a pair of gloves as he prepares for Saturday night's River City Rumble at the War Memorial hall.

Parson, a six time heavyweight champion and five time overall champion at the Kyokushin Karate National Championships, will debut in kickboxing against Dannevirke Bulldog's Moe Hussain at 105kg in the main event of three rounds under modified Muay Thai rules.

Promoter Steve Alderton said Hussain has a few fights under his belt but will be well prepared by respected coach Ben Ahipene, who takes New Zealand fighters away to the upcoming World Muaythai Council (WMC) championships in Malaysia.

Wanganui's own Kyle Gallacher has been selected for the trip to Asia but had to pull out of the Rumble to recover from a knee injury.

The hat will be passed on the night for donations to help both him and Nelson fighter Louise Fuller get to the WMC event.

For his part, Parson has been training hard with fellow karate veteran Richard Hood, another multiple national champion.

Modified Muay Thai rules do not allow for elbow strikes or knees to the head.

The fight with full Muay Thai rules will be between two visitors, Pearce Shields of Scorpion Thai Boxing in Palmerston North and Taranaki's Oscar Remihana of Hell Bent Thai Boxing.

Remihana was victorious at last year's Rumble over Wanganui's Jess Johnston and is also off to the WMC event in Malaysia.

In the other big Muay Thai fight, Wanganui Warriors' slugger Brian Alderton faces Shane "bring the pain" Johnson of Four Dragons Upper Hutt.

Steve Alderton felt Johnson's moniker could be a bad omen against his son, who despite having to drop a lot of weight recently will be ready.

"I don't think he would have fought someone like Brian before."

The younger Alderton dominated Wellington's Richard Heaps at last year's Rumble.

The three scheduled Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) A Class fights also promise to be exciting.

Gallacher's Assassins Guild partner Craig Mercer, a judo exponent who has also competed in kickboxing, will take on Tenali Iosefa of Fiteshop Palmerston North.

Two-sport competitor Matt Gibson returns home from Auckland to face Kapiti Coast's Steve McKenna, in the second chapter of his rivalry with the Oliver MMA fighter.

Alderton said Gibson, a V8 Ute series and TR86 Championship driver, first met McKenna last year.

"It was a narrow loss. However Matt, not making excuses, had been ill with the flu.

"He's got a chance to set the record straight."

And big Wanganui Warrior Kamipeli Latu will be in the rare position of being the smaller fighter when he meets Fiteshop's Bishop Poi Poi, who will hold a 7kg weight advantage over the 103kg Latu.

The action begins on Saturday night at 6.30pm.