Boxing New Zealand's showcase National Championships, will be hosted by the Central North Island Boxing Association for the ninth occasion, when the Nationals return to Tauranga for the second time, 4-8 July 2023.

Known to most in boxing as simply CNI, the origins of the Mid-North Island amateur boxing umbrella organisation date back to the early to mid 1970's, with the demise of the Rotorua Boxing Association.

The first recorded CNI national champion was M Gunderson, who won the Intermediate Middleweight title, at then separate NZBA Junior & Intermediate National Championships in the Hutt Valley in 1976.

Fast forward to 1979 to find the first CNI senior titleholder, when Michael Sykes, was awarded the Parisian Cup as the new Lightweight champion.

There is no better way to shine the spotlight, on the BNZ National Championships hosted by CNI, than to chronicle the Jameson Belt winners at the previous eight championships.

The original citation tells us that "The John Jameson Belt was presented to the New Zealand Boxing Association in 1927 by the firm of John Jameson and Sons Ltd, Bow Street Distillery, Dublin”. “At each National Championships the referees and judges confer and award the belt to the competitor they consider to be the most scientific (boxer). If it is won three years in succession, it then becomes the property of said winner."

Nelson Light Heavyweight Alan McNamara, who went on to a sterling professional career, became the first to win the number one Nationals prize at the first CNI Nationals held in Rotorua in 1984.

Gary Jago, trained by previous National Coach Dr John McKay, added the Jameson Belt to the Bantamweight title he won at Tauranga in 1991.

A return to the ring after a long layoff, saw Light Welterweight Robert Walker defeat Southlands Julian Scully in a stirring title decider, to take home the most scientific senior boxer prize in Taupo during 1997.

Four years later in Taupo, Shane Cameron who had an outstanding professional career waiting in the future, was presented with the John Jameson prize. Shane became the first Heavyweight to win the Jameson Belt, with David Nyika repeating the achievement in 2018 in Christchurch.

Originally from the West Coast of the South Island, Nathan McEwan won the first of his three Middleweight crowns at the 2006 Rotorua Nationals, where he was also awarded the Jameson Belt. In 2009, it was Welterweight Leti Emelioleti time in the spotlight when he had the big-belt strapped around his waist at the Rotorua sports stadium.

Back to back BNZ National Championships in the Sulphur City in 2016 and 2017 saw the Jameson prize travel to Otago and Hutt Valley. Otago Light Welterweight, Richie Hadlow, was adjudged the most scientific pugilist in 2016. The following year, Wellington/Hutt Valley Middleweight Ryan Scaife won the second of his five successive National titles.

Nathan McEwan and Ryan Scaife merit special accord with the pair going on to win the Jameson Belt on a second occasion.

Boxing New Zealand National Championships hosted by CNI

1984 (Rotorua) 1991 (Tauranga) 1997 (Taupo) 2001 (Taupo) 2006 (Rotorua) 2009 (Rotorua) 2016 (Rotorua) 2017 (Rotorua)

Jameson Belt winners

1984 Alan McNamara - Light Heavyweight (Nelson) 1991 Gary Jago - Bantamweight (Auckland) 1997 Robert Walker - Light Welterweight (CNI) 2001 Shane Cameron - Heavyweight (Fielding) 2006 Nathan McEwan - Middleweight (Canterbury) 2009 Leti Emelioleti - Welterweight (Well/HV) 2016 Richie Hadlow - Light Welterweight (Otago) 2017 Ryan Scaife - Middleweight (Well/HV)

Article added: Wednesday 05 April 2023