Purvis eyes full contest bout

A super-heavyweight Wairarapa kickboxer is set for full contest battles after winning a novice bout in Lower Hutt at the weekend.

Damian Purvis, fighting out of Harley's Kickboxing Gym in Masterton, took laurels against Wellington city Combat Room fighter Andy Rich at the Deadly Debut 14 tournament in Lower Hutt.

Purvis' trainer Mal Harley said both fighters towered at about the two-metre mark, although Purvis at 116kg outweighed his opponent by about 10kg.

"Damian's opponent was fit and had some good, clean combinations. He took the first round and was going okay until Damian caught him with a solid right hand in the second round. I think most of the life was sucked out of him about then.

"It was an impressive fight and was the top fight of the night out of the novice bouts."

Harley said Purvis took the second and third rounds comfortably and was now hunting for a full contest bout at either of two other North Island tournaments later this year. Meanwhile, multiple national titleholder and fellow Harley's fighter Brendan Varty is set for his first pro-am showdown at the $4000 first prize King of the Ring 72kg 8-Man Eliminator tournament at the ASB Stadium in Auckland tomorrow.