Boxing: Sullivan will fight for Commonwealth title

By PETER JESSUP

Aucklander Sean Sullivan has signed to fight Australian Julian Holland for the Commonwealth welterweight title and the vacant IBF Pan Pacific title at Jupiters Casino on Queensland's Gold Coast next month.

Sullivan leaves for Brisbane at the weekend to acclimatise to the heat, drop weight after his last fight - which was at super-middleweight - and to take advantage of the opportunity to train and spar with Australian middleweight champion Ricky Thornberry.

Thornberry is scheduled to meet German world champion Sven Ottke, who recently knocked out Anthony Mundine, in Europe in April and Sullivan is hoping he will get the chance to continue in his camp.

The Auckland Boxing Association kicks this season off with a pro-am tournament at its Eden Terrace stadium on February 16, with John Conway up against Eni Latu in a six-round middleweight title elimination bout the main attraction.

Raphael Tai meets Brett Fannin at middleweight and John Argall faces Shane Wihongi at heavyweight.

Undefeated New Zealand pro-lightweight champion Santos Pakau has his first outing of the year against Victorian and Australian lightweight champion Darren Miller in a pro-am at Alexandra Park on February 24.