The double Commonwealth Games Gold Medals of the ‘Waikato Wonder’ David Nyika, has again shone the spotlight on the heavyweight division in New Zealand boxing. Many refer to the Heavyweight grade as the glamour division, with Kiwi heavyweight boxers grabbing the headlines over the years in both the amateur and professional ranks.

New Zealand has won seven Commonwealth Games Gold Medals, with four coming in the Heavyweight division (1950 Frank Creagh, 1966 Bill Kini, 1986 Jimmy Peau, 2018 David Nyika). David Tua won an Olympic Bronze Medal at the 1992 Olympics before embarking on his sterling and well documented professional career.

In this BNZ website piece, we look at the rise of the New Zealand Heavyweight National Champions up to WW2. The first New Zealand Boxing Association National Championships, were a very modest affair compared to the myriad of age groups and divisions, that will be on show at the 2018 Nationals. Just a handful of boxers contested the first Nationals held in Christchurch, in 1902, with competition taking place in just the Featherweight, Lightweight, Middleweight and Heavyweight divisions.

The first National Heavyweight title was won by Jack Fitzsimmons from Timaru, who defeated F Deighton in the semi-finals and went on to stop H Kennedy in round two, to claim the first NZBA heavyweight crown. Fitzsimmons was a nephew of Bob Fitzsimmons, who won world professional titles at Middleweight, Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight, after coming to New Zealand from Cornwall in England in 1871.

Brian McCleary won back to back Heavyweight titles in 1920 and 1921 and would go in to even bigger honours, when selected as an All Black in 1924. McCleary's first title was especially notable, as he defeated legendary All Black Maurice Brownlie in the title decider. Two Australasian titles and winning the New Zealand professional crown showcased McCleary's talents in the squared ring. Brian O’Brien said in his book  “Kiwi With Gloves On” that McCleary was technically one of the best big men the sport had produced.

Another Heavyweight titleholder who later go on to become an All Black was Allan (Arch) McCormick, annexing the national amateur crowns in 1922 and 1923. In the early 1920's, Ashburton was one of the powerhouses in the sport, with both McCleary and McCormack fight out of the South Canterbury towns gyms. Arch McCormick was the father of legendary New Zealand rugby player Fergie McCormick, who sadly passed away in recent months.

Morris (correct spelling) Strickland won the New Zealand Heavyweight title in 1932 before turning to the paid ranks. While not as well known as Tom Heeney, he was ranked as high as number six in the World Professional Heavyweight rankings during the late 1930s. Strickland went within an ace of emulating Tom Heeney in qualifying for a world title fight. In 1939, Morris Strickland who was then ranked nine in the world, was matched with New York’s Bob Pastor with the winner promised an Autumn date with Joe Louis. Pastor beat Strickland on points and went on to an eleventh round stoppage loss to Louis.

The third of four New Zealand heavyweights to earn All Black honours was  Morrie McHugh. In 1938, the Auckland boxer defeated E Fell from Manawatu at the Gisborne National Championships.

Next time we look back  at the Heavyweights division during the 1950’s 60’s and 70’s.

Article added: Saturday 16 June 2018