Details about huge gang fight emerge

The Te Tai Tokerau Fight Night to be held next month has a motto of "Keep it in the Ring". PHOTO/NZME

Boxers competing in a fight night aimed at quelling the bloodshed between gangs in Northland are training hard for the 20 fights on the card.

The fight night announcement was made in June and was organised after five gang-related deaths in the region over the last year.

The Te Tai Tokerau Fight Night boxing event to be held on August 22 at the Portland Community Centre has a motto of "Keep it in the Ring".

Members of the Mongrel Mob, Head Hunters, Black Power, Nomads and Mangu Kaha will line up against each other.

Event spokesman and ex-gang member Tokomauri Hoterene, of Otangarei, said fighters were training hard but everyone was remaining "hush hush" about just how fit and ready they were.

He said there were 15 novices bouts on the card followed by five fights involving people who had boxed in a competition before.

They were expected to mainly come from Northland but there were also gang members coming to compete from Bay of Plenty and Hawke's Bay.

When fighters weigh in next Friday ahead of the competition they will learn who their opponent is.

"It's hush hush at the moment. You never express too much how fit you are to others but it will be clear when everyone gets in the ring," Mr Hotere said.

Mr Hoterene confirmed about 25 tables, each seating 10 people, had been sold at $1500 per table. He said the money was going towards paying the event bills, which included entertainment and catering.

He said it was a alcohol-free event which would be run under kicking boxing tournament rules.

Boxing and wrestling events are covered by the Boxing and Wrestling Act 1981 but it does not cover forms of physical combat commonly known as Asian martial arts.

Under the act organisers of any boxing or wrestling contest must obtain a permit granted by a police officer ranked inspector or above in the district where the event is to be staged.

A copy of the permit has to be posted in a place easily seen by people entering the venue.

Northland police Inspector Alan Symonds said police were aware of the event and they would respond accordingly. He said they had not had any contact with any event organisers and there had not been an application for a permit.