Auckland light middleweight weight Wendell Stanley was awarded the big prize at the Boxing New Zealand National Championships, held in Tauranga 5th - 8th July 2023.

Stanley's fight with Xavier Mata'afa-Ikinofo, who had made the trip over the Tasman from his Australian gym, was a cracker of a contest. The Auckland representative threw plenty of orthodox combinations and held a narrow advantage after the opening stanza.

Mata'afa-Ikinofo came out firing in round two, after instructions from his Central North Island coaches in the one minute break, to win the second round. Stanley asserted his authority in the final round and was given a majority (4-1) decision.

Such was the quality of the bout that Wendell Stanley was awarded the prized Jameson Belt, and Xavier Mata'afa-Ikinofo, received the Parker Memorial Tray for the best elite losing performance.

The Women's most scientific trophy, of the Bobby Johnson Cup, was awarded to 2022 Commonwealth Games representative, Erin Walsh, who won the lightweight title.

Kirikiriroa Women's welterweight, Cara Wharerau, had an all-action contest with team-mate Sheila Yama, which received plenty of vocal crowd support. Yama was given the first round, with Wharerau storming back in the last two stanzas’s, to take out the national title by way of a majority decision.

Cara Wharerau, was presented with the Tom O'Connor Cup as the best women's boxer of the championships. Cara's sixth national title, takes her into equal third on the women's all-time list behind Alexis Pritchard (11) and Dawn Chalmers (8).

Taranaki light welterweight, Kalani Marra, proved too strong for Thomas Hanford from Canterbury, in earning a unanimous decision. The BNZ Championship prize-giving, saw Marra presented with the Bill O'Connor Cup awarded to the youngest elite men's champion.

The light heavyweight title decider between defending champion, Taj Kagho, and 2022 middleweight champion, Emile Richardson, was another grand battle before Kagho won a razor-thin split decision.

The super heavyweight title changed with Auckland's Amoto Mataika beating his teammate and two time champion Roma Crichton. Middleweight, Jesse Hawken, became the ninth Southland boxer to have his name engraved on the Cleverley Belt after beating Neame Lavemaau from South Auckland.

Special mention should be made of the feat of the three Kawau brothers in winning age-group gold (more about that in a later edition) - and a big shoutout to TTR, who live streamed free coverage to boxing supporters throughout the country who couldn't make the journey to Tauranga.

Boxing New Zealand National Championships, Tauranga Boys College, 5-8 July 2023

Senior Finals Results 8 July 1023

Elite Female

Bantamweight               Lola Tigrato (Shamrock) df Montell Mani-Brown (Waikato) 5-0

Featherweight               Amy Andrew (Manawatu) df Dani Coutts (Shamrock) walkover

Lightweight                   Erin Walsh (Auckland) df Ali Lai-Carlyle (Waikato) RSC R2

Welterweight                 Cara Wharerau (Kirikiriroa) df Sheila Yama (Kirikiriroa) 4-1

Middleweight                Tahlia-Leigh Smith (Kirikiriroa) df Deanna Carpenter (Auckland) 4-1

Bobby Johnson Cup (Women’s Most Scientific)           Erin Walsh 

Tom O’Connor Cup (Best Women’s Boxer)                 Cara Wharerau

Elite Male

Flyweight                      Zain Adams (Auckland) df Ali Alsayyand (Te Toki A Maui) 5-0

Featherweight                Alex Mukuka (Kirikiriroa) df Adrianne Entesse (Canterbury) Abn R3

Lightweight                   Joel Hill (Canterbury) df Bradley Watkins (Bay of Plenty) 5-0

L/Welterweight             Kalani Marra (Taranaki) df Thomas Hanford (Canterbury) 5-0

Welterweight                 Kheva Potatau (Auckland) df Hamuera Tainui (CNI) 4-1

L/Middleweight            Wendell Stanley (Auckland) df Xavier Mata’afa-Ikinofo (CNI) 4-1

Middleweight                 Jesse Hawken (Southland) df Neame Lavemaau (South Auckland) 5-0

L/Heavyweight              Taj Kagho (Shamrock) df Emile Richardson (Waikato) 3-2

Cruiserweight                 Tamatoa Hunter (Waikato) df Keanu Naden (South Auckland) 3-2

Heavyweight                  Malcolm Mathers (Te Toki A Maui) df Filimaea Filimaea  (Auck) 4-1

S/Heavyweight               Amoto Mataika (Auckland) df Roma Crichton (Auckland) 5-0

Jameson Belt (Most Scientific elite boxer)                     Wendell Stanley

Bill O’Connor Cup (Youngest Senior Titleholder)          Kalani Marra

Article added: Monday 10 July 2023