Nelson boxers unbeatable at Golden Gloves

Whakatu Boxing had the perfect strike rate at last weekend’s South Island Golden Gloves tournament in Blenheim. Head coach Dion Hall took over three young fighters and they all came away with titles.

Jack Dineen, the apprentice electrician, had too much spark for two Dunedin rivals on his way to winning the 70kg novice section. The 17-year-old had previously beaten Reif Stuart and Jacob Orr at a novice tournament in Christchurch earlier in the year and, as expected, was too strong again, claiming the win.

“Jack fought from long range and then landed some good combinations,” declares Dion.

13-year-old Tainui Whakahoehoe made his debut and only needed one fight, against Reefton’s Brock Thomson, to claim the 48kg title in the cadet novice section. Tainui had been patiently waiting to step in the ring after an opponent couldn’t be found for him at the novice tournament.

And Whakatu’s Lopeti Aiolupotea only had to travel to Blenheim to pick up the 90kg+ novice section crown, unopposed.

Meanwhile, Victory Boxing’s sole representative, Kloe Freeman, beat Christchurch boxer Aaysha Guiney, by split decision, to win the 70kg junior open section.

Motueka can boast a new South Island Golden Gloves champion - Nikora Hedlund hung up the gloves last year to play age grade rugby for Kahurangi but made an immediate impact in his return to the ring.

There were only three entries for the 70kg youth open section and when one of them couldn’t make the weight, it became a straight final at the annual boxing tournament in Blenheim.

Nikora, a former Motueka High School and Waimea College student, beat the much more experienced Riley Te Ao to claim the 70kg youth open section. The Papanui boxer was a South Island Golden Gloves champion the past two years.
“Nikora dominated every round. It was seen as a huge upset,” declares his coach Christine “Gatling Gun” Gillespie.

The 17-year-old took his record to five wins from eight bouts and is now eyeing the national boxing champs in Wellington in September.

Lydia Green overcame ill health and her regular rival to win the 70kg elite novice section at the South Island Golden Gloves tournament in Blenheim. The 18-year-old had been in bed with the flu for three days, heading into the weekend’s event.

But the Dixon’s Boxing star still fronted and took on the only other fighter in that division, West Coaster Mia Brake, for the third time this year and made it three in a row. It was a unanimous points decision which delighted her coaches Randall Dixon and Tracy Rigby.

Lydia is undefeated in her six fights since debuting last year.