Boxing: Undercard fighters feel undervalued

By PETER JESSUP

New Zealand boxers have their noses out of joint after being pushed into the shadows in the Anthony Mundine showcase this week.

They are disappointed that the Aboriginal boxer has failed to back up his statements about improving the opportunities for coloured boxers.

While Mundine and South Aucklander Sean Sullivan performed for Australian pay-TV channel Foxtel and the local free-to-air stations at the Warriors' gym, boxers on the undercard were lining up at the Trident Tavern in Onehunga.

The managers of those fighters, all bar one of whom are Maori or Polynesian, were pretty unhappy that their men did not get to share the limelight.

But they would not say so on the record - boxing being a closed business - for fear of being cut out of future promotions.

The Mundine show is the biggest in Auckland since the days of Jimmy Peau and an up-and-coming David Tua.

The undercard fighters were hoping that television cover plus a sellout crowd at the ASB Stadium would generate good exposure and a worthwhile payday.

But they have found out this week that Foxtel is interested only in Mundine, that overseas coverage of their fights is uncertain, and that their pay will be $100 a round - about what they would earn for a much smaller hometown pro-card.

And some boxers could not get the usual free tickets for friends and family. Mundine's manager, Khoder Nasser, gave some out once he heard of the problem.

Mundine's company, Black Venom Investments, tendered out the undercard operation and the New Zealand Professional Boxing Association picked it up.

Referee Steve Marshall was the matchmaker. His hands were tied by contractual details and, like others, he declined comment on the reasons for the separate weigh-ins, bar saying "I would have liked to have seen them all together."

Paula Mataele fights Richard Tutaki over six rounds at heavyweight, Colin Hunia meets Moroni Schwalger over six rounds, Willie O'Neill fights Hemi Niha over four rounds - both contests at light-heavyweight - and Mohammed Azzouri faces Vernon Downs over four rounds at cruiserweight.