"I'm confident and I'm the fittest I've ever felt. That's the result of lots of road work and lots of rounds of sparring ... I've been up and down the North Island sparring with all sorts of people," Maniapoto explained.
In between running his own Tip Top Roofing business, which employs four workers, Maniapoto has been able to complete morning and afternoon training sessions since accepting the fight at the beginning of the year. It was originally scheduled for April 8 but when Rapira, a cousin of the rugby league international with the same name, collected an injury it was postponed and Maniapoto said he has appreciated the extra training time.
When quizzed on the keys to beating Rapira, Maniapoto, replied: "Working on my jab as well as the combinations I've been working on."
"Getting down to 79.4kgs, the lightest I've had to fight at in two years, has been a struggle but I got there," the Rod Langdon-trained Maniapoto added.
Established in 1995 and with headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, the PABA, covers Central Asia, Oceania, Pan Pacific, Eurasia and Southeast and Far East nations.
PABA spokesperson Brad Vocale of Australia was delighted to see Rapira challenge for the belt and said he had been an inspiration to many young New Zealand fighters.
"I have always regarded Sam Rapira as an important part of New Zealand boxing, and while he did not have the luxury of an international, financially strong promoter, that bought with it great exposure, that the likes of Joseph Parker amongst others had, he is what this sport is all about, he's an honest, hardworking dedicated fighter, who deserves all the success he's achieved.
He called Maniapoto a formidable opponent and predicted a competitive battle between a "stagy old master" taking on "the undefeated young gun".
"Tipene is an up-and-coming light-heavyweight. People may think this would be a great time to challenge me, coming off my loss to Ryan Ford for the UBO world light-heavyweight title. I believe I've got enough left in the tank for one more good performance to finish with a win and really perform for my supporters.
"Boxing is a young man's game so I know it is time to finish up. I'm very proud of what I have done in my career, both professionally and as an amateur. Boxing has had such a positive impact on my life. I'm so grateful I found it, or it found me," Rapira said.
"I have watched Tipene fight before, and he is a very fit and a well-skilled boxer. I am the more experienced fighter, but it will be a great challenge. The thing with fighting undefeated fighters is they don't know how to lose. They've always won, so will fight till their last breath to win. They don't get discouraged easily, because what they have always done, has always worked.
"I didn't let my advantage of experience cause me to pull any punches in training," Rapira added.
