There was plenty of jubilation at the Tauranga Boxing Academy, when their three-man team returned home from the Boxing New Zealand National Championships, held in Christchurch 2-5 October 2024.

Tauranga Cadet Division boxer, Kaitiaki O’Neil, won the TBA first national championships Gold medal with fellow Cadet, Suliasi Lolohea Kaifa, returning home with a Silver medallion.

The Tauranga Boxing Academy is part of the Bay of Plenty Youth Development Trust. The BOPYDT was set up in 2017 in response to growing inequalities developing for some Rangatahi in the Tauranga region.

The Tauranga Boxing Academy is one of the programs that assists the BOPYDT achieve its goals. Ten weeks of two one-hour sessions, during the school terms, prepare the 9-17 year old participants in the art of boxing.

While the participants learn boxing skills, more importantly they pick up life skills of punctually, respect, fitness and self respect, along their journey into the unknown.

TBA Head Coach Mike Owen said “ Kaitiaki and Suliasi first met in the ring of combat from opposing clubs, as eleven year olds in 2021. The following year Kaitiaki joined our gym and they have become very good training partners ever since”.

“Both boys were selected for the BNZ Cadet Development squad in 2023 and 2024. They both work very hard in training, pushing each other all the way every time they jump into the ring”. “It is a great achievement for our two young boxers to attain such outstanding results so early in their career.”

Kaitiaki O’Neil, made short work of his Waikato opponent in his Cadet 44kg semi-final, with the referee intervening to halt the bout in round two. The gold medal bout, matched the Tauranga pugilist up with Boston Hempel from Manawatu, who attacked from the start of the contest.

The Tauranga Boxing Academy fighter showed great speed and skill and scored a 4-1 majority decision. The National title completed a significant trifecta for Kaitiaki who had earlier won a North Island and Australian Golden Gloves titles.

Suliasi Lolohea Kaifa was straight into the Cadet 50kg final against Kiarn Cottle-Curtis from the East Coast Boxing Association. Suliasi was right in the fight throughout the three round bout and lost a tight contest by way of a 4-1 majority decision. The silver medal backed up the same colour he won at the North Island and Australian Golden Gloves.

Tauranga Boxing Academy Welterweight, Cyrus Dohnt, faced a very formidable opponent who made it through to the final, when he was beaten by way of unanimous decision in quarter-final action.

Boxing New Zealand National Championships 2024

Cadet 44kg: Kaitiaki O'Neil (Tauranga Boxing Academy)

Defeated Boston Hempel (Manawatu) 4-1 – Final                 Gold Medal

Defeated Marley Hill (Waikato) RSC - SF

Cadet 50kg: Suliasi Lolohea Kaifa (TBA)

Lost to Kiran Cottle-Curtis (East Coast) 4-1 – Final                Silver Medal

Elite Male Welterweight: Cyrus Dohnt (TBA)

Lost to Ngai Kit-Hung (Auckland) 5-0 – QF

Photograph            Kaitaiki O'Neil (L) & Suliasi Lolohea Kaifa

Article added: Wednesday 16 October 2024