We pick up the Welterweight National champions story with Nelson's Jeff Rackley. One of the four fighting Rackley brothers, trained by their father Les, Jeff was from the top drawer of the countries amateur boxers.

Jeff became one of the countries twenty-nine Olympic boxing representatives, at the 1972 Munich Olympics, where he was beaten by Western German Gunther Meir in a second round contest. His accession to New Zealand Olympic selection produced a remarkable boxing record. 

Five senior titles accompanied by three Jameson Belts was part of his 100 odd amateur fight record. His two welterweight titles in 1971 and 1972, saw Jeff also claim the most scientific award, with his 1972 title coming at the expense of another Kiwi boxing legend in David Jackson. Jeff Rackley went onto have seven professional contests and contested the last fifteen round professional fight in the country. 

Jeff also served as a Nelson community stalwart over several decades and was a Nelson City councilor for a term. In 2008, Jeff received the Queens Service Medal  for services to the community, which included running the Haven Sports Trust dinner which raised funds for young Nelson athletes, for many years.

David and Ron Jackson won three of their final tally of six Jameson Belts in the welterweight ranks. Ron won the Jameson Belt at the 1973 Hamilton Nationals with David earning the Nationals big prize at the 1975 and 1978 New Zealand titles. Taranaki pugilist John Coombe trained by Peter Priest completed the Ted Morgan Cup/Jameson Belt double at 1979 Nationals.

The early 1980's welterweight division belonged to Steve Renwick, who won three successive national titles. Trained by highly credentialed Wellington coach Chris Kenny, Renwick's outstanding ability in the ring was shown by the quality of the opponents that he got past in the three title deciders. 

In 1980 Steve defeated 1979 light welterweight champion Grant Scaife, Canterbury's Kevin Pyne was out pointed in 1981, with Grant Scaife again finding Renwick a bridge to far in 1982. Following in the footsteps of Jeff Rackley, the Wellington pugilist won back to back Jameson Belts at the 1981 and 1982 Upper Hutt Nationals.

Turning to the professional ranks, Steve fashioned a more than solid record over the ditch, winning and defending the Australian Super Welterweight title in his 21 fights on Australian soil. Other professional highlights included the New Zealand Professional Super Welterweight crown and winning three of four bouts in the USA during 1985.

Another New Zealand welterweight champion to add the Jameson Belt to his title titles in the 1980's, was Barry Galbraith from the hugely successful Les Rackley boxing stable in Nelson. Galbraith defeated Tavelu Ioane in 1986, with the Hutt Valley boxer going on to win the welterweight crown the following year.

Trevor Shailer won the first of his two welterweight titles in 1995, before coming out of retirement, to win his seventh senior crown in Upper Hutt during 1995. Both titles were accompanied by the Jameson Belt.

The 1998 Invercargill championships, saw Dr John McKay's name engraved on the Joe Thwaites Shield presented to the coach of the Jameson Belt winner, when Emmett Gradwell won the welterweight title.

Commonwealth Games bronze medalist Daniel Codling triumphed in the first two years of the new millennium, with Russian born Sasha Stretskyy winning the 67 kilo crown in his short time in New Zealand, at the 2003 nationals.

A home town double of the Ted Morgan Cup and Jameson Belt was taken out by Joe Blackbourn at the 2005 Lower Hutt National Championships. Trained by Russell Oliver, Blackbourn would go on to win the 80^th presentation of the Jameson Belt in 2007, when North Harbour hosted the Boxing New Zealand pinnacle event.

Justin Potter and Leti Emiloleti won back to back titles in successive years from 2006, with Emiloleti adding the Jameson prize to his second title in 2009. 

Bowyn Morgan won four straight welterweight titles from 2010 to 2013, with the Jameson prize the icing on the cake in 2012. The Phillip Shatford trained boxer earned selection for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, where he won his first two fights before bowing out in the quarterfinals. 

Article added: Monday 12 October 2020