Report from Nelson mail....The Aussies narrowly took the honours as big-time boxing returned to Nelson for the first time in nearly two decades. The Richmond Community Hall was packed to the rafters on Saturday night for nine international bouts between Kiwi and Australian boxers, and 11 others involving fighters from throughout the country, including a large number of Nelsonians.
The main event featured Jamieson Belt holder (best amateur) Nathan McEwan, from Blackball, taking on New South Wales champion Aaron Scully in the middleweight division. McEwan recovered from an early low blow to record a 10-7 points decision in the three-round bout. It was his first fight after recovering from damage to his AC joint.

New Zealand welterweight champion Leti Emelio Leti was unable to get past Queensland champion Jessie Ross. Nelson's New Zealand Female welterweight champion Dawn Chalmers raised a cheer from the crowd when dispatching her Australian rival Jess Bouquet.Chalmers ran Bouquet ragged, peppering her with jabs and short, sharp hooks, leaving the Australian constantly retreating to the ropes.

The fight between Australia's Sean Evans and Kiwi Harry Scaife was one of the closest of the night, with Evans being awarded the decision in a bout that could have gone either way. Blood was spilled earlier in the evening, with local Gage Brown suffering a bleeding nose at the hands of the flamboyant Pal Jitembra. , Brown remained steady and patiently connected with Jitembra to find favour with the judges. The contingent from across the Tasman ended up winning five of the nine international bouts. Organiser Randall Dixon was not too fazed by the result, however, as on Friday night the Australian team had only lost one bout at a tournament in Auckland.

He was proud of how the Nelsonians acquitted themselves, with three of the four boxers from the Wakatu Boxing Club, two of three from Fighting Fit and one of two from Cliftons winning their fights. Dixon said he was delighted with how the event went and was determined to make it an annual meet. "It was a full house and the crowd was really having a good time."    He was pleased there were no knockouts, as it meant all the bouts were evenly matched.