Women tag along in Rumba' bouts

Two tag team fights will be among the drawcards when the Featherston Muay Thai Club holds their sixth "Rumble in the 'Rapa" at the Anzac Hall in Featherston on August 18.

One of these bouts could be a "first" for New Zealand as it will feature four women: Featherston's Eseta Manesa and Ramona Sargent up against SJ McCann and Bailey Palmer from the Muay Thai Institute in Wellington.

Manesa fought McCann and Sargent fought Bailey in individual contests at an MTI fight night but combining for a tag team clash will be something completely different.

Fighters can "tag out" every minute which means they can keep themselves relatively fresh in the bouts, which usually consist of three or four three-minute rounds.

The highly-talented Manesa and her coach, "Rumble in the 'Rapa" organiser Kelly Davis, will be heading to Russia for the world championships in September.

The other tag team encounter will be a split weight affair with locals Kirk Davis (66.6kg) and Cody Tumuri (71kg) up against Nelson's Leon Tangaroa (66.6kg) and Jahda Wharepapa (71kg).

Davis, who has represented New Zealand, has the experience of a couple of tag fights behind him but Tumuri is making his debut.

Two major titles will also be up for grabs.

Terry Cremen (Featherston) and South Island champion Sam Speight (Nelson) will go head-to-head for the North Island welterweight crown and MTI's Andrew "Bloodbath" McGrath will take on Adam Maisey from the Arch Angle Thai Boxing Club for the New Zealand welterweight title.

The remainder of the card features a mix of novice (padded), amateur (unpadded) and full Thai (elbows can be used) fights.

Two first-timers keen to strut their stuff are Joe Wiremu from Masterton and Martinborough volunteer fire fighter Matt Shackleton.