Boxer hopes to emulate coach

Eating noodles, lots of them, is now just a memory for rookie boxer Lopeti Aiolupotea.

Diet has become a key ingredient for the 17-year-old who used to weigh in at more than 120 kilograms before taking up the sport a year ago. As well as hitting the bags and sparring, he is running up to five days a week under the watchful gaze of his trainer and relative Dion Hall, a former multiple age grade boxing champion.

Lopeti is quick to point out his Whakatū Boxing trainer was probably too humble to expand on his amateur record.

When pressed, South Canterbury-raised Dion acknowledges he won light welterweight, welterweight and lightweight titles between the ages of 15 and 18.

“I won my last 25 amateur fights and then retired and joined the navy,” says Dion.

These days he is a builder and enjoys his handiwork in and out of the ring.

The pair has an area of the Marist Rugby Football Club’s squash courts to themselves, with Dion pleased to have a boxing place to call home after having to operate out of other local gyms.

Lopeti has had three fights so far. He lost his first to a Reefton boxer in Christchurch, won the rematch in Timaru and then returned to Christchurch on the undercard of Christine “Gatling Gun” Gillespie’s title fight earlier this month.

“I dropped 5kgs in two weeks for that fight. It was my best yet,” declares Lopeti, after overpowering his rival who took two standing eight counts before the bout was stopped.

His coach was impressed. “He moves pretty good for a big fella and he hits like a horse,” beams Dion.

“My favourite punch is a right hook,” adds Lopeti, who is hoping to have his fourth fight before a big novice tournament in March, back in Christchurch.

He might have company by then as Dion is hoping to have more novices come onboard.

“Even though he is a Youth Super Heavyweight and weight doesn’t matter that much in that grade, I want to trim him down to about 100kgs,” confirms Dion.

There is no chance of his sole fighter being lured away by other sports.

“I prefer boxing to team sports like rugby. If you lose, it is on you,” says the Nelson-born teenager.