Boxing: Cameron calls time on fighting life

Shane Cameron, 37, will now dedicate more time to his family and North Shore gym. Photo / Getty Images

Mountain Warrior plans to focus more time on his family and his gym but will stay in boxing as a promoter.

Shane Cameron faces no more black eyes and stitches.

Battered and bruised, a content Cameron knew his time in the ring was up after he was beaten by unanimous decision by veteran Kali Meehan at the North Shore Events Centre on Saturday night in the main event of the Super 8 card.

The Mountain Warrior, who began boxing at only 20 and went on to win a bronze medal at the 2002 Commonwealth Games before turning professional, went into the heavyweight bout with Meehan knowing it could be his last.

Such was Cameron's conviction that he confirmed his retirement in the ring after he heard the judges had given the win to Meehan - one of them curiously scored it 99-91 in Meehan's favour, which seemed rather lopsided. The other scores were 98-92 and 97-93.

Cameron's left eye was swollen and discoloured, while a cut above that eye was opened by Meehan in the fifth round and proved a popular target for the 44-year-old, who moved to 42-5 with his victory.

Cameron, 37, will now dedicate more time to his family and North Shore gym, although he said he would stay in boxing as a promoter.

"There'll be no more black eyes or cuts for me," he said. "I think New Zealand has had a fair share of seeing me getting cut. I'm one of the ones who gets cut on the scales weighing in." Joking aside, Cameron did more than his fair share for the sport in New Zealand and he made a point of fighting in front of local fans as live boxing has enjoyed a revival here during the past decade.

"People criticised me for fighting in New Zealand and we did road trips around New Zealand just so people could actually get a glimpse of professional boxing in New Zealand and look at it now, it's massive."

Cameron's 29-5 record doesn't feature a hall of fame list of opponents but he won his share of regional titles, while his fourth-round knockout of Monte Barrett in 2012 came via one of the sweetest rights ever thrown by a Kiwi.

The summary of his career would not be complete without noting his part in the biggest-selling fight held in New Zealand, when a motivated David Tua stopped him inside two rounds in 2009.

But he was a classy competitor who will now pass the baton to the likes of Joseph Parker to carry on this country's contribution to the sport.

In the co-main event on Saturday night, Kiwi cruiserweight David Aloua (11-2) was upset by Australian Anthony McCracken (17-7-1) via seventh round TKO. It was only the second loss of Aloua's career.

Australian Brad Pitt (18-1) lived up to his favouritism as he won the cruiserweight Super 8 last-man-standing tournament with a close majority-decision victory over the previously unbeaten Vaitele Soi (24-1) in the final.

In the opening bout of the night, Meehan's 19-year-old son, Willis, made a successful professional boxing debut by topping the durable Will Quarrie (5-3) by unanimous decision.