Boxing: Easy pick smooths path for Cameron

Cullen Sports has made it clear in picking Shane Wijohn as next opponent for its heavyweight Shane Cameron that it wants to send Cameron overseas with a clean pro record.

Wijohn has courage but is not in the same class and their headline bout at Sky City tonight should be over quickly to put Cameron at 10-0. The fight is for the Professional Boxing Association belt last contested in February 2001, with holder Toakipa Tasefa holding on to the title, if not the trophy.

In one of boxing's oddities, the trophy belt has not been seen since it was held by August Tanuvasa, who lost it to "Kipa" in 1996. Niuean Kipa retired from pro-fighting after beating Tone Fiso in 2001.

And with Kevin Barry, Mike Edwards and other local promoters either overseas or involved in court battles, Cullen's fights are the biggest thing in town. Eric Watson's economic pull ensures venue, television cover and corporate tables. He hasn't told the organisers whether he'll be there or not, but they're operating as if he may well be.

Cameron wants to fight overseas and sees the NZPBA title as a step towards a Pan Pacific or Pan Asian bout. If he can secure regional belts rated with the WBO, WBA or IBF, it's off to the United States.

From Tiniroto near Gisborne, Cameron was 40-8 as an amateur, won bronze at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, has eight knockouts in his nine wins as a pro but is yet to clock anyone of note. Wijohn's biggest claims to fame are having been KOd by Manly backrower Solomon Haumono, losing a unanimous decision to Kali Meehan and losing a points decision to Richard Tutaki. Cameron KOd Tutaki in the third round of his last outing in September.

On the Sky City undercard, Hiriwa Te Rangi fights two-time Australian heavyweight champion and 15-year pro-veteran Bob Mirovic. And well-spread sparring journeyman Chauncy Welliver meets Tutaki.Peter Jessup