It was a golden weekend for Kiwi amateur boxers, with David Nyika winning gold at the Feliks Stamm International Boxing tournament in Poland and Ariana Adlington, Christina Reid and Siaki Tu collecting Arafura Games boxing titles in Darwin, Australia.

David Nyika re-inked his credentials as a world class amateur heavyweight, when he earned a unanimous decision over Tomasz Niedzwiecki from the host country, in the heavyweight title-decider at the Feliks Stamm Boxing tournament in Warsaw, Poland.

A hard fought split decision victory against Russian Iraoslav Doronichev 3-2, was followed by a unanimous points victory over an Indian opponent in the semi-finals, which booked the New Zealand boxer a berth in the gold medal contest. Such was the David’s domination of the heavyweight ranks that he was awarded the prestigious Boxer of the Tournament trophy.

Nyika was joined on finals night, by Boxing New Zealand Middleweight Emile Richardson who had beaten Ryszard Lewicki from Poland by way of split decision in the semi-finals. The Central North Island boxer was forced to concede defeat, in his finals match-up with Adam Chartoi from Sweden, earning a silver medal in his first European international tournament.

Finals night at the Arafura Games, which saw five Kiwi boxers in action, produced three gold and two silver medals.

Kiwi North Flyweight Ivan Pavich progressed straight to the final, putting on a game display before tasting defeat. At the other end of the weight classes, Super Heavyweight Siaki who also faced just one opponent in his division, beat Australian Adam Bourke to have the gold medal hung around his neck at the presentations.

The Women’s Welterweight final was an all New Zealand affair, with Tauranga’s Ariana Adlington getting past her Kiwi North opponent Pelea Fruean 4-1 in a close fought contest. Kiwi South’s Christina Reid, won her two bouts in the Darwin Convention Centre ring to emerge as the Female Middleweight champion.

Katie Thompson, Michelle Nuke, Bree Cumming, Jesse Mahony and Trevor Swainson returned home with Bronze Medals, with Katie Thompson entering the ring on three occasions to earn her medallion.

Arafura Games Darwin, Australia - 1-4 May 2019

Female

51kg – Katie Thompson (Kiwi North)  defeated Anna Kendi

       defeated Sarah McFarlane 3-2

       lost to April Franks 5-0                                     Bronze Medal

60kg - Michelle Nuku (Kiwi North)      lost to Kendall Byrnes 4-1                                 Bronze Medal

69kg  - Ariane Adlington (Kiwi South) defeated Bree Cumming (Kiwi South) 5-0                 

       defeated Pelea Fruean (Kiwi North) 4-1           Gold Medal

69kg - Pelea Fruean (Kiwi North)         defeated Calista Hudson

                                                                lost to Ariane Adlington (Kiwi South) 4-1       Silver Medal

69kg – Bree Cumming                            lost to Ariana Adlington (Kiwi South) 5-0      Bronze Medal

75kg - Christina Reid (Kiwi South)        defeated Laura Wright 5-0

                                                                defeated Rhianna Kerr 4-1                                Gold Medal

Male

52kg - Ivan Pavich (Kiwi North)            lost to John Ignatius Marcas                              Silver Medal

69kg – Dominic Roe (Kiwi North)         defeated Callum Silcock 3-2

                                                                 lost to Chui Omenihu 3-2

69kg - Wendell Stanley (Kiwi South)     lost to Steven Anton 3-2

75kg - Jesse Mahony (Kiwi South)         lost to Roger Grant 5-0                                      Bronze Medal

81kg - Trevor Swainson (Kiwi South)    lost to Ryan Goodes 3-2                                     Bronze Medal

Male 91+kg - Siaki Tu (Kiwi North)      defeated Adam Bourke                                       Gold Medal

Feliks Stamm International Boxing Tournament Warsaw, Poland – 28 April – 5 May

Female

51kg – Tasmyn Benny                              lost to Tori Ellis-Willetts (GBR) 5-0

57kg – Amy Andrew                                lost to Sandra Kruk (Poland) 4-1

58kg – Troy Garton                                  lost to Rebecca Nicoli (Italy) 5-0

75kg – Chei Kenneally                             lost to Eizbieta Wojcik (Poland) 5-0

Male

Male 75kg – Emile Richardson                 defeated Ryszard Lewicki (Poland) 3-2

                                                                   lost to Adam Chartoi (Sweden) 5-0                   Silver Medal

Male 91kg – David Nyika                         defeated Iraoslav Doronichev (Russia) 3-2

                   defeated Sanjeet (India) 5-0

                   defeated Tomasz Niedzwiecki (Poland) 5-0      Gold Medal

Article added: Monday 06 May 2019