NZ boxing - News,Views and gossip.

[diehard]

Good card. Tongotongo needs to step up though. See what he can do at a higher level.

[diehard]

Mea Motu hospitalised following return to New Zealand after world title fight
NZ Herald

Former world champion boxer Mea Motu has been hospitalised with pneumonia and deep vein thrombosis after returning to New Zealand from England earlier this week.

Motu travelled to Nottingham with her team from Peach Boxing to challenge IBF, WBO and Ring Magazine super bantamweight champion Ellie Scotney in a unification bout, falling to a unanimous decision in the first loss of her 21-fight professional career.

In a statement, Peach Boxing said Motu, who has a long history of severe asthma and respiratory issues, likely developed deep vein thrombosis (DVT) - a condition caused by blood clots - from the long-haul flights home.

“Her legs were extremely swollen after arrival, and the swelling worsened over the following days.

“Concerned, her cousin insisted they visit a chemist, who then urged her to seek medical attention. She was soon diagnosed with DVT and a lung infection and is now receiving urgent treatment for both conditions.”

Motu had travelled north from Auckland to Pukepoto, between Ahipara and Kaitaia, for a break and had planned to attend a cousin’s wedding on Friday.

She and her team have been managing respiratory issues for years.

“To be honest, the last three days, it’s been really tough,” Motu told Newstalk ZB.

“I’ve been really struggling to breathe, both of my legs are all swollen...it’s really hard to walk, I’m very exhausted, I’m run down, I’m so tired. I’m just struggling to breathe and try survive, really. That’s the hardest.

“I was trying to fight it, but my family were very concerned and stressed that they took me to the hospital. I thought I just had a normal cold.”

Earlier this year, she was forced to withdraw from the reality TV show Treasure Island after a severe asthma attack landed her in the hospital with pneumonia - and continued to do so ahead of her meeting with Scotney.

Peach Boxing said Motu had been dealing with a persistent cough leading into the bout, but they were well prepared for the fight and had received medical clearance to compete.

Coach Isaac Peach praised Motu’s resilience, acknowledging the uphill battle she faced.

“I’m not making excuses, I take nothing away from Scotney, she was brilliant. It’s just crazy the level that Mea is able to operate at with such obstacles in her way,” Peach said.

“I was very worried as soon as I heard she was unwell back here, and I’m so relieved she is in the right place getting the treatment she needs. She is an absolute warrior.”

[jamieson2]

New Zealand-born knockout artists Lilo 'Tank' Telepe (5-0, 5 KOs), Wayne 'The Terminator' Telepe (1-0, 1 KO), and Apai 'The Tongan Spartan' Cook (3-2, 3 KOs) are set to make a statement on April 4 at Melbourne Pavilion in Victoria, Australia


@lilotelepe04 @terminatortelepe @_tonganspartan #lilotelepe #WayneTelepe #ApiaCook #Boxing #NZBoxing #NewZealandBoxing #BoxingNZ #BoxingNewZealand #NZBoxer #NewZealandBoxer #NZBoxingChronicles #NewZealandBoxingChronicles #Boxer #FightNight #ProBoxing #ProfessionalBoxing #thesweetscience

[diehard]

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/boxing/...K5FORN4DU/

[jamieson2]

Whanganui’s own Jahzia Puohotaua (3-0, 2 KOs) is set for a thrilling showdown against fellow undefeated fighter Noah Hooper (3-0, 1 KO) on Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the South Bank Piazza in Queensland, Australia.

@jahzia_puohotaua #jahzia_puohotaua #NoahHooper #PuohotauaHooper #Boxing #NZBoxing #NewZealandBoxing #BoxingNZ #BoxingNewZealand #NZBoxer #NewZealandBoxer #NZBoxingChronicles #NewZealandBoxingChronicles #Boxer #FightNight #ProBoxing #ProfessionalBoxing #thesweetsciences own Jahzia Puohotaua (3-0, 2 KOs) is set for a thrilling showdown against fellow undefeated fighter Noah Hooper (3-0, 1 KO) on Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the South Bank Piazza in Queensland, Australia.


@jahzia_puohotaua #jahzia_puohotaua #NoahHooper #PuohotauaHooper #Boxing #NZBoxing #NewZealandBoxing #BoxingNZ #BoxingNewZealand #NZBoxer #NewZealandBoxer #NZBoxingChronicles #NewZealandBoxingChronicles #Boxer #FightNight #ProBoxing #ProfessionalBoxing #thesweetscience

[jamieson2]

New Zealand heavyweight Veni Mafi (2-1, 1 KO) steps into the ring against battle-tested veteran Herman Ene (19-9, 11 KOs) in an intriguing showdown on Saturday, March 15, 2025, at Rumours International in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia.


@mafikings_22 #venimafi #HermanEne #MafiEne #TheBigFights38 #Heavyweight #HeavyweightBoxing #nzheavyweight #newzealandheavyweight #NZHeavyweightBoxing #newzealandheavyweightboxing #Boxing #NZBoxing #NewZealandBoxing #BoxingNZ #BoxingNewZealand #NZBoxer #NewZealandBoxer #NZBoxingChronicles #NewZealandBoxingChronicles #Boxer #FightNight #ProBoxing #ProfessionalBoxing #thesweetscience

[jamieson2]

Good card. Tongotongo needs to step up though. See what he can do at a higher level.

He should be fighting a higher level than Ralph Etienne, although it depends on his activity. If this is the first of 3 or 4 for 2025 then I'm okay with it. Remember it was only 2 fights ago, well down on the cards he was having to come from behind to knockout Max Reeves in the 6th.

I'd hate you as my coach lol. There's an art to building & developing a fighter, especially with many of these modern boxers having limited amateur experience.

[diehard]

Ah, I'd be all right as a coach. Nothing great mind you. Yeah, all bets are off with a limited amateur career. I don't mind padding a record as long as the fighter is learning. After 9 fights and 9 ko's, I'd think it's time to step up unless he's working on some skill that makes him limited as a fighter. Then he needs to spar/fight to learn the skill.

[jamieson2]

Each fight should be used for development early on. If you're just knocking out cans, it’s not really helping your growth and can lead to an overestimation of your abilities. The Reeves fight highlighted several areas that need improvement.

[jamieson2]

Rotorua’s unbeaten Ricaia Warren (4-0, 3 KOs) is set to kick off 2025 in style, headlining the Feb. 22 Battle of the Clubs event at Mercury Baypark Arena in Tauranga, New Zealand. His opponent will be announced soon.


@ricaiaw #RicaiaWarren #battleoftheclubs #Boxing #NZBoxing #NewZealandBoxing #BoxingNZ #BoxingNewZealand #NZBoxer #NewZealandBoxer #NZBoxingChronicles #NewZealandBoxingChronicles #Boxer #FightNight #ProBoxing #ProfessionalBoxing #thesweetscience