Pampellone too fast and fit for Nik the Greek, who was not in great shape. John Parker lost in a fight that coulda gone either way. Fight was closer than the judges had it. Joseph Parker was at the fight, but wasn't interviewed.
Also fight for life is back
Keven Mealumu v Koopu
Messam and Spencer fighting leaguies
Former All Blacks Spencer, Messam added to charity boxing event
A pair of former All Blacks and two of New Zealand's most promising professionals will headline the undercard for next month's Fight for Life charity boxing event.
A veteran of 43 tests, former flanker Liam Messam would be joined by 35-test first five-eighth Carlos Spencer at the event on Auckland's North Shore on July 21.
Also on show would be undefeated pro duo Jerome Pampellone (12-0) and Andrei Mikhailovich (17-0) out of the thriving Peach Boxing stable in west Auckland.
Classy light-heavyweight Pampellone was set to face Francis Waitai (5-0), while heavy-handed middleweight Mikhailovich would go up against Shane Cameron-trained fighter Joshua Francis.
Neither Messam nor Spencer would be stepping in the ring for the first time, having both fought on previous editions of the Fight for Life.
Messam, who was taking on two-time NRL champion and former Kiwis back Paul Whatuira, had also fashioned a 3-0 record and fought as recently as last month when he picked up a points decision win at an event in New Plymouth.
The 38-year-old had been sparring with Olympic medallist David Nyika and, like main event headliner and fellow former All Black Keven Mealamu, had aspirations of making a run at the New Zealand heavyweight title.
Spencer, 46, was stopped by Monthy Betham at the 2014 Fight for Life and would be chasing redemption against former Warriors and Samoa prop James Gavet.
A portion of ticket sales from the event would be donated to leading youth mental health and suicide prevention charity I Am Hope.
rnz.co.nz
Comm games selection provides 'redemption' for Kiwi boxer
A potent boxing team made up of fighters from unique pathways and led by David Nyika has been named to represent New Zealand at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games next month.
Potent and fresh boxing side ready to take on Comm gamesPlay Video02:06
David Nyika headlines the squad as he aims to achieve three consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medals.
Among them is 34-year-old Troy 'The Trojan' Garton, a fashion graduate and television actress.
These days, she’s a fitness trainer and is off to her second games, but she’ll never forget her first one four years ago when she competed with a serious knee injury and won bronze.
"When it happened and they confirmed I’d torn my ACL, it was like, well I’m not giving up now, I’ve worked too hard. The power of the mind is actually an amazing thing," she said.
Also returning to the boxing team from four years ago is Nyika who is aiming for a record three commonwealth games golds in a row.
The Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist is excited at the opportunity to represent his nation on the big stage once again.
"It’s a real honour to be selected for another Commonwealth Games," Nyika said.
"The Commonwealth Games are where I first made my mark, fighting as an 18-year-old in Glasgow, I always enjoy them, it’s got a really nice feel and there’s always some quality competition as well."
Garton and Nyika are the only members of the team with Commonwealth Games experience, with squad made of young and ambitious fighters ready to stamp their mark.
Under 57 kilo featherweight Erin Walsh out of Ireland came here in 2015, but she has only just qualified to represent the Kiwis.
"The rush was to get residency, then we had to quickly apply for citizenship, then we needed to get a passport, we did that within recording breaking time, I became a citizen four days ago and I got my passport two days ago," she said.
Super heavyweight La’uila Mau’u has been selected after missing out on qualifying for Tokyo.
He competed at the 2020 Asia Oceania Olympic Qualifiers, beating his Tajikistan opponent but went down to Australian Justis Huni who went on to place second at the competition.
This selection is a second chance to show the world what he can do.
"They say 80%'s mindset in boxing, a lot of it was mindset, I feel now it’s like redemption for myself," Mau’u said.
Mark Keddell from Boxing New Zealand believes the team is ready for success.
"This is a really strong team and we know we’re capable of some great results in Birmingham."
The Birmingham boxing competition will be held from July 29th to August 7th.
NZ Boxing team:
• David Nyika – Men’s U92kg
• Erin Walsh – Women’s U57kg
• Wendell Stanley – Men’s U71kg
• Onyx Lye – Men’s U80kg
• Troy Garton – Women’s U60kg
• Ariane Nicholson – Women’s U70kg
• Uila Mau'u – Men’s 92+kg
• Alex Mukuka – Men’s U57kg
*Emile Richardson has been selected as a reserve in the Men’s U75kg division.
David Nyika's shot at Comm Games history in doubt
A hand injury has bruised David Nyika's shot at Commonwealth Games history, but not his longer-term ambitions of world domination.
The New Zealand cruiserweight is in doubt for the event in Birmingham later this month, where he could become the first boxer to win Commonwealth gold at three consecutive Games.
The 26-year-old struggled to remove his glove after an existing issue flared up during a second-round stoppage of Louis Marsters on the Jai Opetaia world title undercard on Saturday on the Gold Coast.
Nyika won New Zealand's first Olympic boxing medal since 1992 in Tokyo last year and was set to ramp up his professional career after one last Commonwealth campaign.
But with his left hand submerged in a bucket of ice, he admitted that he'd need the dust to settle before making a call on the campaign.
"It's an existing injury; I've had scans already (before hurting it in the fight) and it comes with the territory," Nyika told AAP.
"We'll have to sit on it now and make some decisions in the next few days."
Nyika's camp was buoyant regardless, new trainer Noel Thorberry confident he has something special in his stable to rival former heavyweight world title contender Alex Leapai.
"He's the sleeper, but he can go all the way to the top," Thornberry said of Nyika, who fought before the pay-per-view segment of Saturday's card and is currently a promotional free-agent.
"We've had seven world title fights out of our backyard and he's going to be eight.
"His boxing ability is far past not just Alex's, but anybody's.
"He's been sparring with Jai the whole time (before he won the world title on Saturday).
"They have different styles, but I just see two world-class fighters. One's had 20 fights, one's had four, that's all."
Nyika has been based at Gatton with Thornberry for the last three months but also holds a British passport.
It means he could set up camp in the United Kingdom, where he has already established connections as a sparring partner to world champion Tyson Fury and fellow Kiwi Joseph Parker, whose trainer Andy Lee he has also worked with.
"It's a nice vibe right now; I'm enjoying the development and learning about the business of the sport," he said.
"Knowing the in and outs of the business is just as important as what happens in the ring.
"And 100% I can add to the buzz around boxing in Australia right now... the UK too.
"I'm in the best place to get all my ducks in a row and make a really solid charge at the world title."
I personally don't like mixing the Commonwealth/Olympics with the pros. It should be for amateurs. But I feel for Nyika, and hope he continues to train well.