The undercard was one of the best seen recently featuring New Zealand finest boxers and one that was certainly TV worthy.
‘This is Big Bash 7’ which was promoted by Andrew Higgins, has produced one of the best cards seen for a while. Both corporates and professionals did an amazing job with multiple standing ovations throughout the night.
First Professional fight of the night was Christchurch’s Joshua Hatherley taking on Jerome Pascua. Pascua took control of most of the fight, punishing Hatherley’s body throughout the entire fight. Pascua won the fight by split decision.
Next up is Shay Brocks vs Blake Bell in a 6 round fight. Bell was extremely dirty throughout the fight, landing 4 low blows and pushing Brocks with an open glove to Brocks face. Brocks however did dominate the entire fight causing Bell to bleed allot from the nose and mouth, with blood splattering everywhere in the ring and onto the judges table. Brocks won the bout by Unanimous Decision winning every round.
Monica Tai made her pro debut tonight against Wendy Talbot, with the whole of the Tai family in her corner. The first round was pretty even, with second round Tai getting more comfortable. Tai won the fight by TKO when Tai manage to stun Talbot and pinned her against the ropes we plenty of punches. Talbot was extremely unhappy with the stoppage and proceeded to have a tantrum in the ring.
Ratu Dawai took on Jordan Tuigamala in one of the less action fight of the night. Not allot of punches were thrown let alone landed as both boxers were playing it safe. The fight ended in a split decision draw.
The fight of the night was Adrian Taihia vs Mose Auimatagi Jnr. This being Mose first fight in the light heavyweight division and Taihia back into the action since October last year it was a big fight from the beginning. So many heavy hit were landing from both sides to the point you almost know it wasn’t going to go the distance. Mose won the fight by 3rd round TKO, with both boxers showing each other a huge amount a respect to each other.
The Main Event was Junior Fa vs Daniel Tai for the vacant New Zealand National (NZPBA Version) Heavyweight Title.
The NZPBA title has been vacant for almost 5 years, last held by Sonny Bill Williams. The most well-known person to hold this title was Shane Cameron in the early 2000s. Junior Fa is well known for not only being undefeated in Professionals, Bronze Medal winner of Commonwealth Games and being last person to defeat Joseph Parker.
This was Daniel Tai’s 36th fight of his career in professional boxing and his 7th New Zealand Title fight, if you include him winning the NZNBF title in 2006 and successfully defending it that same year. At the age of 39, Tai was at the time of his career where it’s now or never.
This was the most difficult fight for Junior fa’s career with every fight he has ever been in he has won every single round except for this one. It was a rough battle for both boxers, with Fa being in trouble a couple of times and both boxers having swollen faces. Tai as a tiny cut on his left eye brow, however the cut wasn’t bad at all. In the
In the end, the judges scored a 100-90, 98-94. 95-95 win to Junior Fa by majority decision.
