Rotorua's Tyrone Warren (right) has beaten Christchurch's Ratu Dawai to claim the light-heavyweight NZNBF national title. Photo / Simon Eves
Rotorua's Tyrone Warren (right) has beaten Christchurch's Ratu Dawai to claim the light-heavyweight NZNBF national title. Photo / Simon Eves
Rotorua boxer Tyrone Warren has a shiny new belt to add to his trophy cabinet.
On Saturdaynight,during the gym's Christmas with a Punch corporate boxing event, Tyrone Warren beat Christchurch's Ratu Dawai in a unanimous points decision to claim the light-heavyweight NZNBF national title.
It was the first time the vacant belt had been contested in Rotorua.
Tyrone's father Aaron Warren, Rotovegas Boxing Gym owner and Christmas with a Punch organiser, said Tyrone "boxed smart".
"I reckon he did enough to win at least seven or eight of the nine rounds, that's my opinion. It was great entertainment, both boys applied the basics and kept busy. They respected each other and it was a good show of clean boxing to be honest.
"Tyrone used that left hand of his, being a southpaw, and hit him with some good straight shots. He was using that to his advantage, moving around well and he was good at finding his range.
"Considering he's only done four-round fights in the past, to go to 10 rounds and still finish the fight strong was really impressive," Aaron said.
He said Christmas with a Punch, held at the Energy Events Centre for the first time, provided plenty of entertainment.
The event is a fundraiser which helps the gym provide a boxing programme for children and included 16 bouts between first-time male and female boxers.
"We've had heaps of positive feedback and the venue was absolutely amazing. We had about 1200 people there watching.
"It was probably the best show of even matches that we've had. For the corporate fights, Chad Larkin was probably one of the standouts, he boxed very well. He put the effort in leading up to the event and it paid off.
"Also, one of the boxers of the night for me was Rachel Hoffman. She followed instructions from the coaches, boxed straight and clean and looked good," he said.
Larkin said he had been training at Rotovegas for a while and was excited to finally get in the ring.
"I was nervous waiting to go out, but once you get your hands wrapped and start your warm-up you get in the zone, it's go time.
Chad Larkin (right) won his corporate boxing match against Heremia White at Christmas with a Punch. Photo / Simon Eves
"I was stoked to get the win, I can't thank my coaches enough. I love the gym, they're all my best mates. Tyrone is my best mate and I've watched him fight a couple of times - I wanted to step into his world and see what it's all about," he said.
Each fighter fought for either the red team or the blue team. The red team prevailed, winning eight fights to the blue team's six.
2017 Christmas with a Punch results
Frankie Cistrone beat Anna Hamilton Sam Pauli beat Chris Van Der Vlugt Mahi Vercoe beat Rose Barker Jacko Ngataki beat Kody Mahuika Esther Tango and Raukura Hohepa tied Brendon Kenny beat Shane Epapara Leah Hoffman and Aliesha Marama tied Conan Hemsworth beat Jason Featherstone Sam Sherwood beat Kriszia Baker Sharni Jones beat Jennifer Gabrielson Rachel Hoffman beat Cyreen Newton Kevin MacDonald beat Shannon Varley Natalie Stone beat Noelani Hudson Chad Larkin beat Heremia White Lily Florence beat Weka Kirk Vicky Page beat Kelly Buckley
