Vaughn favoured to win junior lightweight title

Dunedin's Janna Vaughn is the warm favourite to win the vacant national women's junior lightweight title at the "Rumble in the 'Rapa" Muay Thai tournament being held in Featherston tomorrow night.
Vaughn will be up against fellow New Zealand representative Natasha Worden of New Plymouth but while Worden has a reputation for grit and stickability the odds seem stacked against her.
Twice a bronze medallist at the World Muay Thai championships, Vaughn, 21, had her first competitive fights as a 12-year-old and was an instant success, having her three fights against adult competition stopped in her favour.
Her toughness was also illustrated on the rugby field, a sport in which she has represented Otago and Manawatu.
She suffered a severe pelvic injury in one game but within 12 months was back in action.
"She's a tough cookie, no doubt that," organiser of the Featherston tourney, Sue Latta, said of Vaughn. "She's fit, fast and skilful, she's pretty much the whole package."
Latta warned, however, that victory to Vaughn should not be taken for granted with Worden, who has also fought for New Zealand at world championship level, being a "very direct" fighter with enough power to make a decent contest of it.
"You never know, if Janna slips up at any stage Natasha could capitalise, you always have to consider the surprise element," Latta said.
Several members of Latta's Featherston based Muay Thai club will be part of the 15-fight programme tomorrow night with George Murray, a 17-year-old who tips the scales at 145kg, sure to attract attention.
His bout with Thomas Tuatita of Palmerston North is actually a rematch from the Masterton tourney a few weeks back.
There was no result then because of the ring breaking midway through.
Latta describes Murray as "very promising" and expects him to perform well at the Arafura Games in Darwin in May.
Alanna Gain, a world championship bronze medallist, will be having her first "full fight" bout when she takes on Aroha Kingi of New Plymouth and something novel for Muay Thai will be the fact that a mother and son, Kelly and Kirk Davis, will feature on the same programme.
Kelly Davis will be fighting at 78kg, a marvellous achievement in itself as it wasn't long ago that she tipped the scales at around 140kg. She will be pitted against Shelly Page of Palmerston North while Kirk Davis will have his first senior novice bout against Bjorn Constable of Napier.
Latta is confident a capacity crowd will attend tomorrow's night tourney which is the first of its kind to be held in Featherston. "The interest has been amazing, we're looking for a full house," he said.