When Northland's Telea Kask steps out into the ring on Saturday evening to take on Wanganui's Aaliyah Ashford in a Muay Thai kickboxing bout, spare a thought for her folks who will be watching.
Telea's mother Atarangi understandably expects to be a bit concerned when the bout gets under way, particularly
as Ashford is a more experienced competitor, but at least she knows her daughter is ready.
"Honestly, I know she's ready for this, she's trained so hard over the last few months, has been careful to eat right and keep up her fitness," she said.
"My husband and I have been 120 per cent behind her, but I guess her readiness is [also] down to her trainers, Erana and Mike Brown, who give her the advice and guidance she needs."
The 15-year-old Telea has been boxing for almost three years, but switched to kickboxing after she struggled to get meaningful bouts at competitions.
Atarangi has been so impressed with the set-up at the Fight Fitness Gym that she has started training there herself.
"They like to include their fighters' families in training as well because it settles down their fighters, so that's been a big win for me with Telea, but also with my own fitness," she said.
The Kask-Ashford fight is part of a Muay Thai spectacular at Kensington Stadium this Saturday. There are eight other Northland kickboxers - Sarah Lynn Wilson, Olivia Siakisini, Greg Dolan, Hamish Ridling, Morgan Webb, Corey Palmer, Mita Moses and Shiann Neho - who have had bouts arranged for Saturday.
Only one Northland competitor - Wellsford's Ringi Osbourne - will compete in the main contest of the evening, the eight-man elimination bout.
The competition and the prizemoney has drawn fighters from all over New Zealand, with $5000 going to the winner or the last man standing. The winner will have to fight three times on the night to win the cash.
The event is expected to attract a sell-out crowd of up to 2000.
