As we continue our look at the Boxing New Zealand great champions of the past - we resume with the remarkable career of Bill Byrne, who won ten titles in two weight divisions during the 1970's.

Bill won six heavyweight and four light heavyweight titles, winning the heavyweight and light-heavy on the same night on three occasions (1972, 1974 and 1975). The annexation of two titles on one night will never be repeated, after the NZBA changed the rules, to restrict boxers to one weight division at the National championships.

Bill Byrne was born in Gisborne and commenced boxing with Dan O’Connor before shifting to Wellington in 1969. It was in the Hutt Valley, that he came under the tutelage of Alan Scaife when he joined the Heretaunga Boxing Club. In 1970, aged eighteen years of age,  he became the youngest Heavyweight titleholder (until David Tua in 1989). After finishing in the runner-up position in 1971, he started a run unlikely to be surpassed, with victories every year until 1977. On the occasions that he won two titles in the one evening, Bill would box the light heavyweight final in the first bout and then return in the last to contest the heavyweight final.

Bill fought in the light heavyweight division at the 1974 Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, winning the silver medal, with injury in the semi-final ruling Byrne out of contesting the final. Bill opened his Commonwealth Games campaign defeating Paul Thompson by way of RSC in round two. Injury came in his semi-final point’s victory over Isaac Ikhuoria (Nigeria), with Englishman William Knight winning the gold medal by way of a walkover due to injury to the Kiwi boxer.

Bill ended his international career with 24 victories from 25 contests. Included in his international victories was a defeat of T Sullivan, the USA national golden gloves champion.

The Light Heavyweight Division has seen two Kiwi boxers taste success at the hugest level - with an Olympic silver medal and a Commonwealth Games gold medallion. 

Controversy surrounded the awarding of a silver medal to Kevin Barry at the 1984 Olympics held in Los Angeles. The disqualification of Evander Holyfield in their semi-final bout, completely overshadowed the feat of Barry winning three bouts, to reach the medal round in the cauldron of Olympic competition. The feat of four Olympic victories ranks alongside Ted Morgan, who also won four bouts in winning his gold medal in 1928.

The first victory was comprehensive, five judges to nil, point’s shutout over Trinidad’s Don Smith. A narrow 3-2 points win from Jonathon Kiriisa (Uganda) set up a quarterfinal contest with Jean Paul Nanga (Cameroon), which Barry took out 4-1. The knockdown of the Kiwi boxer in his semi-final fight with Evander Holyfield (who later became an icon and world champion in the world professional heavyweight ranks) after the bell, resulted in the disqualification of the American boxer. The silver medal was hung around the neck of the Christchurch boxer after he was adjudged medically unfit to contest the gold medal final.

 Kevin quickly moved up the weight scale after his first national title in the junior under 50kg weight division in 1974. A junior lightweight and intermediate lightmiddle followed before two senior light heavyweights in 1983 and 1984. While many of the boxers have won more titles than Kevin Barry, it was his international record that was simply superb.

The Olympic silver medal was only part of a prized collection. Oceania Golds from 1982, 1983 and 1984, Commonwealth Championship gold in 1983, silver from the 1984 Kings Cup, a 1982 Commonwealth Games bronze and a 1985 Oceania bronze. In all Kevin had 24 international contests with 20 victories.

David Nyika is entitled to be ranked in the top echelon of Kiwi amateur pugilists over the decades. The first of his two Commonwealth Gamed gold medals came in the light heavyweight division at the 2014 Glasgow games. David entered the ring on five occasions in Glasgow, defeating South African and Scottish opponents in preliminary contests, before beating a Indian boxer in quarter-final action. Irishman Sean McGlinchey was dispatched 3-0 in the semi-finals, with David defeating Kennedy St Pierre from Mauritius by way of a unanimous decision in the gold medal contest

The (then) Waikato based boxer won three Boxing New Zealand age-group titles in 2011, 2012 and 2013, before making a sensational entrance into the senior ranks in 2014. In addition to the Glasgow gold medal, he won gold at an international tournament in Albania, while also earning his first senior National and Golden Gloves titles.

Other light heavyweights to make their mark included big punching, Raeli Raeli, who scythed through the light heavyweight ranks in the 1980’s, winning the National title in 1986, 87, 88, 89 and adding the Oceania crown in 1986 and 1987. The Counties Manukau puncher was selected for the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Scotland losing to a Canadian boxer in his first bout.

Dannevirke soldier, Nigel Anderson won a three-peat of National light heavyweight titles in 1989, 1990 and 1991 and a Oceania crown in 1989. The highlight of his career was undoubtedly the bronze medal he earned at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland.

Anderson got past Andrew Caulfield (Scotland) with a unanimous decision in his first bout, before receiving a walkover against his English opponent in the next round. Canadian Dale Brown ended the Kiwi pugilists aspirations, in a hotly contested bout where Brown got a 4-1 majority decision.

The best was never seen from Regan Foley (1995/96 National light heavyweight champion), in the amateur ranks, as he suffered a (then) career ending injury after securing a silver medal at the 1997 Presidents Cup. Regan showed heaps of fortitude to return to the ring in a short professional career, winning four straight fights before retirement again beckoned.

Article added: Sunday 23 June 2019