Professional boxing in New Zealand

Professional boxing in New Zealand
Governing bodyBoxing NZ
NZNBF
NZPBA Inc
PBCNZ
Pro Box NZ

Professional boxing in New Zealand refers to the sport of boxing held in New Zealand at a professional level.

Governing body

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New Zealand National Boxing Federation (NZNBF) and New Zealand Professional Boxing Association (NZPBA) are the national sporting commissioning bodies that run professional boxing in New Zealand. Other boxing bodies in New Zealand have been inactive including Boxing NZ Inc and New Zealand Boxing Council (NZBC). Boxing NZ Inc currently only commission amateur boxing events and NZBC has been inactive since 2007. The New Zealand Boxing Association (NZBA) was the first boxing commission in New Zealand, which began before 1900. In 1903, the NZBA was granted a special dispensation by the ruling world amateur body to conduct professional boxing. Thus was born the amateur undercard with pro bouts as the main card.[1] In 2016, a New Boxing commission started called the Professional Boxing Commission New Zealand (PBCNZ). The PBCNZ commissioned their first show on Joseph Parker vs. Andy Ruiz. A small commissioning body called Pro-Box NZ (established in 2012), is semi active in New Zealand, however only does an average of three events per year. Most of Pro-Box NZ commissioned events are in the Bay of Plenty and Waikato area. In 2019, NZPBA was no longer considered the main professional boxing body as Pro Box NZ did more shows nationwide the NZPBA. PBCNZ was the main body for Auckland.[2]

History

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In 1903 Parliament formed and passed the Boxing and Wrestling Act to cover the facets and the issuing of a Police boxing permit. The act and regulations have been slightly amended over the years. The latest amendment was 1984, because only boxing and wrestling is named in the current act and regulations, is why all the other combat sports do not have to apply for Police permits or restricted by anything else such that is required for current day boxers.[3]

Tournaments

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Current champions

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Men

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Weight class: NZPBA Champion: NZPBA Reign began: PBCNZ Champion: PBCNZ Reign began: Pro Box NZ Champion: Pro Box NZ Reign began:
Heavyweight Junior Fa 18 March 2017 Richard Tutaki 28 October 2023 Kiki Toa Leutele 12 May 2023
Cruiserweight Asher Derbyshire[4] 29 April 2016 Jerome Pampellone 21 July 2022 John Parker 27 April 2024
Light Heavyweight Vacant Michael Helg 8 June 2024 Zane Hopman 30 October 2020
Super Middleweight Jonathan Taylor 12 November 2016 Vacant Francis Waitai 10 October 2020
Middleweight Vacant Marcus Heywood 20 August 2022 Andrei Mikhailovich 3 August 2019
Super Welterweight Bowyn Morgan 22 June 2018 Dylan Archer 25 July 2024 Bowyn Morgan 15 December 2018
Welterweight Vacant Vacant Vacant
Super Lightweight Vacant Vacant Shiva Mishra 15 February 2020
Lightweight Nort Beauchamp 4 May 2019 Vacant Vacant

Female

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Weight class: NZPBA Champion: NZPBA Reign began: PBCNZ Champion: PBCNZ Reign began: Pro Box NZ Champion: Pro Box NZ Reign began:
Heavyweight Sarah Long 13 October 2018 Vacant Sequita Hemingway 19 August 2023
Cruiserweight N/A Tinta Smith 11 May 2024 N/A
Light Heavyweight Lani Daniels 18 November 2017 Geovana Peres 13 October 2017 Lani Daniels 24 June 2022
Super Middleweight Vacant Vacant Lani Daniels 22 September 2018
Super Welterweight Daniella Smith[5] 6 May 2006 Vacant Vacant
Welterweight Daniella Smith[6] 13 December 2008 Vacant Macca Jean 7 October 2023
Super Lightweight Vacant Mea Motu 3 July 2021 Vacant
Lightweight Mea Motu 26 March 2021 Quinita Hati 19 May 2018 Vacant
Super Featherweight Rebecca Jennings 10 September 2016 Mea Motu 30 April 2022 Vacant
Featherweight Vacant Mea Motu 12 February 2022 Vacant
Bantamweight Christine Gillespie 2 November 2024 Vacant Vacant

Pacific Titles

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In 2018, Pro Box NZ created a new title for the pacific region called the Pro Box Pacific title, with the first bout happening on 4 May 2018 with Bowyn Morgan taking on Andres Delfin Rodriguez. PBCNZ tried to replicate the idea, however the original bout scheduled on 19 May 2018, between Sam Rapira and Abhay Chand did not happen due to Abhay Chand pulling out. Sam Rapira ended up fighting Ratu Dawai instead for the PBCNZ National Titles.

Cruiserweight Pacific title

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Name Beginning of Reign Title Opponent
Patrick Ferguson 18 August 2018 Pro Box Pacific Panuve Helu

Light Heavyweight Pacific title

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Name Beginning of Reign Title Opponent
Savenaca Naliva 29 February 2020 Pro Box Pacific John Korake

Super Middleweight Pacific title

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Name Beginning of Reign Title Opponent
Tyson Turner 9 November 2019 Pro Box Pacific Zac Cotten

Middleweight Pacific title

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Name Beginning of Reign Title Opponent
Gunnar Jackson 24 November 2018 Pro Box Pacific Blake Bell

Super Welterweight Pacific title

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Name Beginning of Reign Title Opponent
Bowyn Morgan 4 May 2018 Pro Box Pacific Andres Delfin Rodriguez

Super Lightweight Pacific title

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Name Beginning of Reign Title Opponent
Cairo George 4 May 2019 Pro Box Pacific James Torres
Shiva Mishra 31 October 2020 Pro Box Pacific Tain Cropley

Super Featherweight Pacific title

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Name Beginning of Reign Title Opponent
Baolin Kang 11 September 2019 Pro Box Pacific Cain Brunton

Provincial titles

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In 2018, New Zealand Professional Boxing Association created three Provincial titles for New Zealand. The NZPBA Northern, NZPBA Central and NZPBA Southern title.[citation needed] The first title was competed on 6 October 2018, where Kiki Toa Leutele Knocked out Thomas Russell.[citation needed]

Heavyweight title

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Heavyweight Central title

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Name Beginning of Reign Title Opponent
Harry Kaing 6 December 1886 Wanganui title John Laurie
Kiki Toa Leutele 6 October 2018 NZPBA Central Thomas Russell

Heavyweight Southern title

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Name Beginning of Reign Title Opponent Defence
Bill Bartlett 13 December 1912 Canterbury title William O'Bien 1

Cruiserweight title

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Cruiserweight Southern title

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Name Beginning of Reign Title Opponent
Izic Placid 3 May 2019 Pro Box NZ South Island Ash Mcconville
Kurt Winklemann 24 November 2018 Pro Box NZ Inter-Island title Nigel Elliot

Super Middleweight title

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Super Middleweight Southern title

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Name Beginning of Reign Title Opponent
Joshua Hatherley 24 November 2018 Pro Box NZ South Island Michael Pascoe

Middleweight title

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Middleweight Northern title

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Name Beginning of Reign Title Opponent defences
John Laurie 10 September 1886 Auckland title James Martin 1
Barney Donovan 22 September 1886 Auckland title John Laurie 1

Middleweight Central title

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Name Beginning of Reign Title Opponent
Gunnar Jackson 24 November 2018 NZPBA Central Blake Bell

Middleweight Southern title

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Name Beginning of Reign Title Opponent Defences
John Laurie 5 June 1886 West Coast title J J Breeze 1
Fred Millar 20 August 1887 West Coast title John Laurie 1
John Laurie 17 September 1887 West Coast title Fred Millar 0

Lightweight title

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Lightweight Northern title

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Name Beginning of Reign Title Opponent defences
Torpedo Billy Murphy 14 July 1883 Auckland title Frank Burns 2
Barney Donovan 5 January 1885 Auckland title Torpedo Billy Murphy 1

Boxing and Wrestling Act 1981

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Barry Leabourn & John Mitchell (2002). "100 Years of Boxing New Zealand" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 January 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  2. ^ Benjamin Watt (2020). "BATTLE OF THE NEW ZEALAND BOXING COMMISSIONING BODIES PART 1". Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  3. ^ "NZPBA Talks about History". East Side Boxing. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  4. ^ "Wellington Big Bash - Fight 11". Youtube. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  5. ^ "Daniella Smith". WBAN. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  6. ^ "Daniella Smith retains NZ Welterweight Title". Fight Times. Retrieved 21 February 2009.
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