By AINSLEY THOMSON
The boxing coach at the centre of forgery allegations has been involved in boxing controversies before.
Cameron Todd, who once trained David Tua, is alleged to have falsified documents relating to boxers' registrations - including forging a doctor's signature on medical certificates.
Boxing New Zealand is investigating the matter, which it describes as "alleged irregularities", and has given Todd's club, the Auckland Central Boxing Association, 30 days to respond.
Yesterday, Keith Walker, chairman of the executive of Boxing NZ, said Todd was the only person involved.
He confirmed the forgery allegations were part of the inquiry, but said the matter could prove to be much wider than that.
When the Herald visited Todd he said he had been instructed by Boxing NZ not to comment.
Mr Walker later said this was not the case.
Todd, a discharged bankrupt, works at the Boxing Central gym in Mt Eden. On the gym's website he is described as the owner, gym manager and fitness class co-ordinator. It says he is the former New Zealand middleweight champion with 87 fights to his name and that he is a current national coach.
Todd, who is in his late 30s, was the trainer of Solomon Islands boxer Joseph Saimei, who ended up with head injuries and partly paralysed after being knocked out during a fight in 1996.
It was alleged Todd knew before the match that Saimei had a middle-ear infection and had been treated by a doctor for shock days before, but he did not inform the match doctor, Dr David Gilgen.
The Solomon Islands Government hired Auckland lawyer Olinda Woodroffe to investigate whether the boxer might have been medically unfit to take part in the fight, and a lawsuit against New Zealand boxing officials was filed.
Mrs Woodroffe then filed an assault charge against Todd, saying he assaulted her when she was visiting Saimei in hospital.
Todd admitted to the charge and was discharged without conviction.
Saimei eventually received a confidential amount of money from the promoters of the tournament he was injured in, after mediation. Todd was not involved in the pay-out.
In 1998 Todd was once again surrounded by controversy, in a case similar to the current one. New Zealand Boxing suspended him while there was an investigation into whether Vanuatu boxer David Naru's official records were altered.
Naru competed in a match while he was meant to have been stood down for 28 days after a head injury.
Yesterday, Mr Walker said the case was dismissed after a plausible explanation was received from both Todd and Vanuatu.
Gary McCrystal, who is chairman of the Auckland Boxing Association - a separate organisation to Todd's Auckland Central Boxing Association - said they have been concerned about Todd for some time.
"We just don't think he is the desirable man for New Zealand boxing."
Mr McCrystal said his association has once employed Todd as a gym coach, but "had to dispense with his services".
Boxing coach no stranger to controversy
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