Boxing: NZ welterweight beats Aussie Commonwealth champ

11.35am

UPDATE - New Zealand welterweight Kahukura Bentson recorded one of the biggest wins of his career with an upset points defeat of Australian Daniel Geale at the Oceania boxing championships in Nukualofa, Tonga last night.

Bentson downed Australian No 1 Geale -- the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games champion -- 23-20 to keep his hopes of an Olympic berth alive. New Zealand fighters must win their division to have any chance of qualifying for Athens.

Australian management were angered by the judges' points ruling against Geale and launched an appeal.

The appeal was rejected after a drawn-out 2-1/2 hour hearing.

Bentson started quickly and immediately took the fight to his opponent. The end result was a reflection of Bentson's ability to counter everything Geale threw at him and then resume his own attack.

Another New Zealander to impress on the fourth day was Steven Heremaia in the light welter division, his bout against Ken Nokloki of Vanuatu stopped by the referee in the second round.

Fellow-light welter Carl Commons lost narrowly to Vilami Tauaika of Tonga on points, 19-22, in the other New Zealand result.

There are seven New Zealand male fighters through to the semifinals while Stephanie Perry and Kelly Halling will fight for gold in the womens bantamweight and lightweight divisions respectively.

New Zealand boxers still in contention:

FEMALE FINALS

Bantamweight: Stephanie Perry

Lightweight: Kelly Halling

MALE SEMIFINALS

Bantamweight: Angus Donaldson v Joel Bunker (Australia)

Featherweight: Jamie Gardner v Fijian opponent

Light welterweight: Steven Heremaia v Vilami Tauika (Tonga)

Welterweight: Kahukura Bentson v Peter Nauka (Vanuatu)

Light heavyweight: Soulan Pownceby v Jamie Withers (Australia)

Heavyweight: Liam Hall v Adam Forsyth (Australia)

Super heavyweight: Kere Brooks v Angus Shelford

- NZPA