Boxing: Hefty prize purse for 'last man standing'

Whangarei's Ivan Te Haara, left, and Elliot Hau, right, with Super 8 boxer Kali Meehan, centre. Photo/John Stone

New Zealand's most accomplished heavyweight boxer made a flying visit to Whangarei.

Sydney-based Kiwi expat boxer Kali Meehan, who can boast a better record than both David Tua and Shane Cameron, toured the country this week promoting Sky Arena's new eight-man tournament, Super 8.

He is one of the first fighters to be named in the line-up for the eight-man, last man standing event, which includes a $500,000 prize purse - one of the biggest in the world for this type of tournament.

Meehan visited Whangarei Boxing Gym on Monday as part of his countrywide tour from Northland to the South Island.

The former number one WBA contender, who was born and raised in Auckland, says one of his favourite parts of the country is in Northland.

"I love the Bay of Islands," he said.

Despite being based in Australia, Meehan said he will "always, always" call himself a New Zealander.

"In New Zealand, there's three good things we produce - singers, rugby players and heavyweight boxers."

Meehan's last fight was in 2012.

At the moment, he's focusing on reaching the same level of fitness he had when he was on the world stage for that June 4 fight.

"I'm slowly getting there," he said.