New Zealand is a completely different world to when the New Zealand Boxing Association (Boxing New Zealand) was established in 1902.

While internal travel in New Zealand was often difficult - travel to Australia (by sea) was commonplace. A year after the first New Zealand National championships were held in Christchurch the Australasian championships was established in 1903.

The first Australasian tournament was held in Sydney in October 1903. The following boxers represented New Zealand. Featherweight A Parker (Christchurch) Lightweight M Rosenburgh (Dunedin) Middleweight JM Griffin (Greymouth) Heavyweight HN Taylor (Greymouth). The first Kiwi’s to win Trans Tasman titles were Griffin and Taylor.

In 1904 the boxing championship of the two near neighbours took place in Christchurch. JM Griffin wrote his name into the championship’s history book winning both the Middleweight and Heavyweight titles.

The Trans Tasman titles continued until 1923 interrupted on by World War One. In 1933 fresh history was begun when the championships were revived in Brisbane but lasted just two years.

Since the Second World War four Australasian championships were held. The first was in Adelaide in 1960 followed by Wellington in 1962 and Sydney the following year. Another attempt to continue the tradition took place in 1967.

Once again the Trans Tasman titles petered - but in 1972 the first Oceania Boxing Championships took place in Tahiti. Apart from a break between the 1974 and 1979 Oceania championships, a regular meeting between the best pugilists in Australasia takes place each year at the Oceania tournament.

National Championships 2008

Shortly nominations will be called for the 2008 National Championships in Upper Hutt over the next two months local associations will hold their own local championships to select association teams to compete at the Nationals .

This years  event organisers Wellington and Hutt valley Boxing Association  will host the event in conjunction with the Upper Hutt City Council from the 1st to the 4th October over 140 entries are expected from the 28 New Zealand Associations .

For corporate table bookings and information contact 0274 307 026

RESURGENCE OF BOXING IN SOUTH ISLAND
 
Two weeks ago the Temuka Boxing Club held their annual tournament unfortunately in the absence of the Clubs stallwart Ernie Woods who, because of his health, is now residing in Te Kuiti with his daughter.  The entries for the tournament numbered 66 and resulted in an 18 bout programme.  Saturday 10th. May the Gore Boxing Club held it'e annual tournament with the entries numbering 76 and, until Friday 9th. had a programme of 24 bouts.   the night finished up with 17 bouts and an excellent night was had by all with 500 patrons and outstanding atmosphere.  The probable feature of the night was betwen the local National 42 - 44 Champion Jahvan TUHAKARAINA AND Nic DOWLING ( Sth. Ing'll) They gave the crowd three rounds of non stop boxing with the local hero winning 24 - 23.
 
The next on the South Island calander is the Golden Gloves on the 24th. May at Timaru and this should be an outstanding event with the suggested number of entries exceeding 80.  This is huge for the Southerners and indicates the obvious resurgence of, especially, novice boxers as well as the return to the sport of some experienced competitors. '
Article by
Tom OConnor

Shane Cameron will  fight USA boxer Kevin Monty on  Sat the 28th of June in Wellington

The bout which tops the bill on an eight bout pro - am  to be held at the TSB Arena on Queens Wharf  Wellington  first bout beginning at 6pm  .

Camerons opponent who hails from the East Coast of America stands 6ft 5in and weighs over 110kgs he has a record of 22 bouts 17 wins 4 defeats and one draw , the bout will be  over 12 x 3 minute rounds  and  promoted by Knockout Boxing  in conjunction  with Wellington and Hutt Valley Boxing Assoc

Also appearing on the bill   Current NZ Middlewieght  Champion Joe Blackbourn  (Wellington) takes on Issac Peach (Central Auckland) over four rounds in one of two  amateur contests  

While Issikial Maama (Auckland) current NZ Amateur Super heavy Champion  makes his pro debut  facing seasoned Oscar Talimira (Wellington)  over 6x3 minute rounds .

The undercard also features

 Danniela Smith (Auckland ) Vs Nive Moefau 

 Leamy  Tato (Wellington) Vs Chauncy Welliver (USA)

 Jamie Guy (Australia)  Vs  Moyo Mensah (Ghana) 

The  event is only the second in the last 6 years in Wellington City the last being Sean Sullivan - Sam Leuii  for the Vacant Boxing NZ Light Heavy weight title  was  promoted by Wellington and Hutt Valley Boxing Association  it is hoped  this  will be the first of many  in conjunction  with professional promotors and a  return of Pro Am events in the Capital City 

Tickets available at Tiketec

The International Boxing Association (AIBA) has the great pleasure in confirming the appointment of Mr. Keith Walker (AIBA Youth World Championships), Ms. Nieva Embuldeniya (AIBA Women's World Championships) and Mr. Luiz Claudio Braga Boselli (AIBA World Cup) as the Technical Delegates for its three remaining tournaments in 2008.

The appointment of Ms. Embuldeniya, an AIBA Executive Committee member and vice-chairperson of the AIBA Women's Commission from Sri Lanka, marks the first time in AIBA history that a woman will officiate in the role of Technical Delegate.

It is great honour to be named by the AIBA President Dr. Ching-Kuo Wu as the Technical Delegate for the AIBA Women's World Championships, Ms Embuldeniya, who was an International Technical Official (ITO) at three AIBA Olympic Qualification tournaments earlier this year, said. I am proud to be selected and this now sets the tone for women in boxing, illustrating the increased standing women's boxing has not only inside but also outside of the ring.

Mr. Walker, a member of the AIBA Referee and Judges Commission from New Zealand, most recently officiated as an ITO at the AIBA Oceania Olympic Qualification Tournament in Apia, Samoa while Mr. Braga Boselli, an AIBA Executive Committee member from Brazil, was the Technical Delegate at the 1st AIBA Europe Olympic Qualification Tournament in Pescara, Italy.

The AIBA Competition Rules, available on the AIBA website www.aiba.org, state that to be qualified as an AIBA Technical Delegate, the person in question must exhibit superior leadership and management skills by having the AIBA R&J certification and/or AIBA ITO License. An active coach, referee, judge and team manager cannot be appointed as a Technical Delegate.

Pic: AIBA EC member Mr. Luiz Claudio Braga Boselli

Mr. Walker and Mr. Braga Boselli will both be ITO's at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

The AIBA Youth World Championships will be held in Guadalajara, Mexico from October 25-November 1, followed by the AIBA Women's World Championships from November 22-30 in Ningbo, China before the AIBA World Cup takes place from December 5-15 in Moscow, Russia.

INTERNATIONAL
BOXING ASSOCIATION
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Avenue de Rhodanie 54 - CH-1007 Lausanne