11-13-2017, 06:02 PM
Derbyshire faces tough first test of NZ boxing title
Wellington boxer Asher Derbyshire makes the opening defence of his New Zealand cruiserweight title this week.
Asher Derbyshire is hardly a big name in New Zealand boxing – but he does have a big asset.
That's a New Zealand title from arguably the most credible of the local boxing bodies, the New Zealand Professional Boxing Association.
On Saturday that cruiserweight belt is up for grabs at the Indian Cultural Centre in Kilbirnie, Wellington, when he meets Napier's Tipene Maniapoto, a boxer and kickboxer whose only boxing loss was at the hands of Sam Rapira.
The orthodox Derbyshire was scheduled to face another fighter with kickboxing credentials, Zane Hopman, but Hopman pulled out with a knee injury.
On paper Derbyshire's 8-3-1 record isn't brilliant, but those three losses came at the hands of fighters with international experience, including Israel Adesanya and Lawrence Tauasa.
This is Derbyshire's first defence of his title and it appears he's stepping straight into a difficult defence against a fighter with a 5-1 record who went the distance against former light-heavyweight title-holder Rapira.
The Kilbirnie resident won't have to travel far for his fight, it's almost literally in his backyard.
The main undercard bout was to feature another Wellington scrapper Cory Enoka against Clint Foai but Enoka will now face Thomas Russell, who made his debut against Nick Charalampous earlier this month on Shane Cameron's promotion in Auckland and not only went the distance but provided real resistance against a far-more-experienced opponent.
Wellington boxer Asher Derbyshire makes the opening defence of his New Zealand cruiserweight title this week.
Asher Derbyshire is hardly a big name in New Zealand boxing – but he does have a big asset.
That's a New Zealand title from arguably the most credible of the local boxing bodies, the New Zealand Professional Boxing Association.
On Saturday that cruiserweight belt is up for grabs at the Indian Cultural Centre in Kilbirnie, Wellington, when he meets Napier's Tipene Maniapoto, a boxer and kickboxer whose only boxing loss was at the hands of Sam Rapira.
The orthodox Derbyshire was scheduled to face another fighter with kickboxing credentials, Zane Hopman, but Hopman pulled out with a knee injury.
On paper Derbyshire's 8-3-1 record isn't brilliant, but those three losses came at the hands of fighters with international experience, including Israel Adesanya and Lawrence Tauasa.
This is Derbyshire's first defence of his title and it appears he's stepping straight into a difficult defence against a fighter with a 5-1 record who went the distance against former light-heavyweight title-holder Rapira.
The Kilbirnie resident won't have to travel far for his fight, it's almost literally in his backyard.
The main undercard bout was to feature another Wellington scrapper Cory Enoka against Clint Foai but Enoka will now face Thomas Russell, who made his debut against Nick Charalampous earlier this month on Shane Cameron's promotion in Auckland and not only went the distance but provided real resistance against a far-more-experienced opponent.