A recent AIBA communication revealed the addition of three weight categories to the present-day 10 Men’s and Youth weight divisions. The Light Middleweight and Featherweight divisions are to be re-introduced, with a new weight class of Cruiserweight making its entrance for the first time.

The Cruiserweight division slots in between Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight. There has also been an increase women's weight division from ten to twelve. The changes will have effect from 1 August 2021.

The return of the Featherweight division revives a weight class record that is unlikely to ever be beaten. Manawatu boxer and current Boxing New Zealand Head Coach Billy Meehan won nine National Featherweight titles in a twelve year period.

Meehan opened his national title account in 1979, when he beat Hutt Valleys Trevor Wright in the title decider. Title number two, came against Richard Pitman, who represented the Cook Islands in Olympic and Commonwealth Games competition and New Zealand at the Oceania championships. 

In three successive finals kicking off in 1984, the North Island fighter who fought with his head tucked in to hunched shoulders, met and defeated Southland's Johnny Wallace.

Revenge was sweet for Meehan in 1988, after he dispatched Darren Nicol who had beaten the Manawatu fighter in 1983, to earn his fifth successive national crown. Another National champion was defeated the following year in Shane Samuel. Retirement arrived in 1990, when he again beat Richard Pitman, to win the Featherweight title for the ninth occasion. 

Billy Meehan's name was engraved on the Jameson Belt, awarded to the most scientific senior titleholder in 1985, which accompanied the Bill O'Conner Cup given to the youngest senior champion in 1981. 

Billy represented New Zealand at the 1982 Commonwealth Games held in Brisbane Australia. In his first bout he stopped a Papua New Guinea boxer in round two, before tasting defeat from Nigerian Peter Konyegwachie in the next round.

One of the most successful Kiwi boxing teams to compete overseas, was the five-man New Zealand side that competed in the 1983 Commonwealth Championships in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Kevin Barry senior had his hands full as the only official, doubling as Manager/Coach of a team that that returned home with Two Gold and two Silver medals.

The Manawatu featherweight was joined by Michael Sykes (Light Welterweight) Michael Flavell (Light Middleweight) Kevin Barry junior (Light Heavyweight) and Michael Kenny (Super Heavyweight), in the trip to the first Commonwealth Championships.

Kevin Barry junior and Michael Kenny both won Gold medallions with Billy Meehan and Michael Sykes being awarded Silver medals.

First up Billy beat Australian Shane Knox before getting past Peter Bradley from Scotland. He faced a formable opponent in the title decider, in Nigerian Peter Konyegwachie, who was the 1982 Commonwealth Games Gold Medalist and would go on to win a silver medal at the 1984 Olympics. While Billy was beaten on points he continued on his sterling career for another seven years.

The nine national titles in one weight division, has set the bar vey high for future boxers looking to write their name as an immortal of the sport in our country, with Billy Meehan’s feat likely to never be beaten.

Article added: Saturday 14 August 2021