05-09-2018, 09:15 PM
New opponent for Rapira.
Sam Rapira has had a change of opponent for his come back fight at the Taranaki Explosion boxing on Saturday the 19th May.
Rapira will be fighting light heavyweight Ratu Dawai for the New Zealand Professional Boxing Council light-heavyweight title.
Organiser Ashley Smith said Rapira's original opponent Abbay Chand was no longer available so Dawai stepped up to take the fight.
"Having a New Zealand title fight over 10 rounds is important for us and he wanted to challenge for the title. He is a strong boxer and despite having a mixed record, he has never been knocked out in the light heavyweight division and is in great shape.
For Rapira, the new opponent will mean not dropping to a new weight class as planned.
“I’m happy with Dawai as my opponent and I respect him for stepping up to take this bout at short notice.
"He is a different boxer so tactically I'll need to be sharp and make sure I adjust to his style. While I am a little bit disappointed I can no longer display how effective I’d be at super-middleweight, having the chance to fight for a title is great" he said.
Rapira said an added incentive if he wins is that he will be the New Zealand champion again as, and when the rankings points are updated the week after the fight, a win would position him as no.1 at Light heavyweight in New Zealand.
Sam Rapira has had a change of opponent for his come back fight at the Taranaki Explosion boxing on Saturday the 19th May.
Rapira will be fighting light heavyweight Ratu Dawai for the New Zealand Professional Boxing Council light-heavyweight title.
Organiser Ashley Smith said Rapira's original opponent Abbay Chand was no longer available so Dawai stepped up to take the fight.
"Having a New Zealand title fight over 10 rounds is important for us and he wanted to challenge for the title. He is a strong boxer and despite having a mixed record, he has never been knocked out in the light heavyweight division and is in great shape.
For Rapira, the new opponent will mean not dropping to a new weight class as planned.
“I’m happy with Dawai as my opponent and I respect him for stepping up to take this bout at short notice.
"He is a different boxer so tactically I'll need to be sharp and make sure I adjust to his style. While I am a little bit disappointed I can no longer display how effective I’d be at super-middleweight, having the chance to fight for a title is great" he said.
Rapira said an added incentive if he wins is that he will be the New Zealand champion again as, and when the rankings points are updated the week after the fight, a win would position him as no.1 at Light heavyweight in New Zealand.