Boxing: Fight for Life raises $500,000

By PETER JESSUP

The rugby-versus-league charity stoush in Auckland last night left unresolved the question of which is the superior code.

But the Fight for Life event, with the bout count ending four-all, delivered all round in the entertainment stakes and raised more than $500,000 for the Yellow Ribbon campaign, which aims to raise awareness of youth problems leading to suicide.

In the captains' bout, which closed the card, Wayne Shelford used his 23kg bulk advantage to press home a 2-1 split-points decision over Kiwis opposite Mark Graham.

The pair were extremely wary of each other, and were reluctant to mix it in round one.

But the crowd's boos pressed them to exchange blows in the next three rounds.

Shelford said afterwards that he had been fired by organiser Dean Lonergan's calls that All Blacks were soft. But it was cuddles all round with Graham once they had finished.

Most in danger of knockout last night were the referees, with wild roundhouses the norm. Rarely were feet planted to deliver punishment boxing-style.

In most bouts, hands dropped in tiredness mid-round in round one.

There was plenty of guts, then blood on display, though, and the packed house of 3500 at the ASB Stadium loved it. The men-to-women ratio was about 100-to-one.

Forget friendly rivalry. Once the fighters introduced their gloves to each other's noses, it was all on.

It was clear why KOs are rare on the football field. These guys don't land many.

Wide eyes and wide throws were the order of the night.

Kiwi-turned-television commentator Brent Todd and ex-Waikato prop Graham Purvis went hammer and tongs. Todd had the better technique and landed clean punches to take a unanimous points decision.

Afterwards, he provided a mix of the Academy Awards and flashbacks to Muhammad Ali, indicating that some of the victors may be hard to live with this week.

The crowd stood to give Todd and Purvis an ovation after plenty of action, during which the referee pulled the yellow card on Purvis after Todd slipped and fell and his opponent leaned over to deliver.

Referee Denny Enwright later had to warn Todd for holding and delivering repeat uppercuts - proof, if it was needed, that it was all on.

Former Kiwi wing Mark Bourneville demolished ex-All Black prop and national judo rep Steve McDowell, the rugby rep taking four standing eight-counts before being counted out.

Manu Samoa legend Peter Fatialofa won a unanimous points decision, advancing like a runaway jumbo bin against Mt Albert Kiwi Ricky Cowan.

"Fats" also said he had been primed by Lonergan's running off at the mouth.

Kangaroo captain-turned-Canberra coach Mal Meninga and All Black hardman-turned-softie Kevin Boroevich slugged it out centre-ring - Meninga an athlete, Boroevich not short on courage but lacking preparation to go out in an early ref's call.

Former All Black centre Frank Bunce had a 2-1 decision over ex-Warrior-Kiwi Tea Ropati in one of the night's more energetic fights.