Boxing: Rounds to be short and sharp

By PETER JESSUP

Boxing's version of one-day cricket is Cullen Sports' first move off the football field.

A hyped-up show with four, two-minute rounds instead of the usual six rounds of three minutes is set for tonight at the new Sky City convention centre.

The venue looks smart, with 500 corporate black-tie fans paid up, most of them sponsors of the Warriors or associated with other Eric Watson businesses.

The event is the first of five fights for the Warriors' boxing headliner, Shane Cameron, that will be screened by TV3. Tonight's coverage starts at 8.30 and Cameron's fight against Brazilian Gilberto Melo is timed for 10pm.

James "Smitty" Smith flew in from Las Vegas yesterday sporting a diamond-studded gold microphone as necklace to compere the five bouts.

The first of four New Zealand versus Australia fights is David "The Reaper" Wiremu (9/4), against tough Melbourne fighter Steven Marks, (11/9 and one draw) at welterweight, both just over 65kg.

The next four fights are all at heavyweight.

Richard Tutaki (10/5) weighed in yesterday at 119.5kg for his fight with Steve Irvine, 101.5kg. The Australian looks in superb shape, Tutaki's weight advantage looked soft but he enjoys a height/reach advantage.

Kick-boxer, K1 fighter and Newmarket gym operator Jason "Psycho" Suttie (3-0 boxing) came in at 103.2kg and fights Lawrence Tauasa (15-3), who was 96.8kg.

Paula Mataele (5-0) weighed 116.3kg and also has height and reach over Bob Gasio, 107kg. The opponent was supposed to be Paul Robinson but he suffered injuries in a car crash mid-week. The veteran Gasio steps up after fighting Australian champion Colin Wilson three weeks ago and therein lies his weakness.

Cameron (6-0) was at 102.6kg and the Brazilian Melo (5-3) at 95.7kg. The visitor has had limited preparation for this whereas Cameron has been working solidly towards it since his last fight, in January.

NZ Professional Boxing Association vice-president Steve Marshall, who referees the top bout (which does go six, three-minute rounds), is a traditionalist but is open to the shorter version Cullen is promoting. "You have to suit TV these days."

TV3 is looking at running Smitty's new satellite and cable-broadcast In This Corner, which features great fighters past and present, discussing issues, up-coming events, the skills they have and what made them champions.