Kiwi heavyweight boxing prospect Hemi Ahio fought through the pain of a hand injury to keep his perfect record intact with a dominant points victory over Junior Maletino Iakopo in Auckland on Saturday night.
Ahio (6-0) dropped Iakopo (3-17-2) in the second round during the main event of the Fight Against Obesity card, operated by Monty Betham's charitable foundation Steps for Life, before eventually coming through the four-round bout with a victory.
"We'll take the win but with his hand injury Hemi was holding back," Ahio's promoter John McRae said. "Hemi has a great future ahead of him and a growing fanbase and he didn't want to disappoint them so he boxed on. We would have loved to have seen his signature knockout but we are just as happy with the experience he got from the rounds."
Ahio has been troubled by a hand problem this year, which also forced him out of a proposed bout with Julius Long (16-17) recently.
The 24-year-old has only been boxing for two years and has no amateur background but is quickly carving out a reputation as an entertaining talent with his rapid hand speed and tremendous power.
