Boxing: Leuii seeks Commonwealth title

New Zealand professional boxer Sam Leuii will challenge for the Commonwealth light-heavyweight championship in London on Saturday night (NZ time).

Leuii is ranked No 10 by the International Boxing Federation and will fight champion Clinton Woods over 12 three-minute rounds.

Woods who holds the British, Commonwealth and European titles has a professional record of 22-1, including 12 knockouts.

Leuii, the IBF Pan Pacific, Oceania and New Zealand champion, is aiming to become the first New Zealander in 20 years to win the title.

He has been sparring with another top New Zealand fighter, Regan Foley, in preparation for the bout.

He was accompanied to England by trainers Paul Wallbank and Ken Reinsfield in the absence of head trainer Kevin Barry, who is with New Zealand's top professional, David Tua, in the United States.

Tua has his first fight this year on July 18 at Lake Tahoe, Nevada, against American Gary Bell, who has had 20 wins (13 knock-outs), and two losses.

Tua, who defends his United States Boxing Association heavyweight title, has been training at Vero Beach, Florida, with his trainers, Ronnie Shields and Lou Duva, for the past four weeks.