Boxers ready to fire
By Charles Pitt

Some exciting boxing is on the cards at the “Battle of the Clubs championship” to be staged at the Banana Court next Tuesday evening, 24 October starting at 7pm.
The Executive board of the Cook Islands Amateur Boxing Association has put together a card of ten bouts, three junior and seven senior featuring boxers from four of Rarotonga’s five boxing clubs. Clubs participating are Muri, Pue, Puaikura and Piri’s. No boxers from the Avatiu club are taking part.
Pue submitted the most contenders- 13, followed by Piri’s Club-6, Puaikura-6 and Muri-2.
With the exception of a handful of boxers most are an unknown quantity but have been in training for some weeks and should put up a good show. In this category are most of the boxers from the Club recently established by ex -boxing legend, Piri Puruto III which operates at the Fitness Centre across the road from the airport.
The Puaikura Club has recently been revived and has new boxers. Former Fijian regional champion Tevita Vakalalabure is helping out there as coach. Boxing Association President Adi Narayan is grateful for the assistance from Manea Foods in getting the Club re-established.
There are three “name” boxers to follow. Their bouts will be the highlight of the evening. They are Tutai Williams and Vengi Hagai of Pue Club and Eddie Daniel of Muri Club. In bout 4, Williams has had a number of international bouts and was a representative at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in March. He was a Cook Islands rep to NZ in 1999 and Guam in 2000. While older that Daniel and Hagai he is still sharp and fit. Trainer at Pue Club is Tuwunga Mataora
Eddie Daniel in bout 9 on the card, is a very promising boxer from Muri Club where he trains under the watchful eye of National Coaches Ringiao and Charlie O’Connor. He was also a representative at the Melbourne Games after acquitting himself well in the recent international contest against Tahiti.
The best known is Vengi Hagai of Pue Club who has had a number of international bouts and fought well in the contest against Tahiti winning his bout. He was also at the Melbourne Games. Hagai is the current Cook Islands middleweight champion and has represented the country at tournaments in Tahiti (2001), Fiji (2001), American Samoa (2002), Tonga (2003), NZ (2004) and PNG (2005).
President of the Boxing Association, Adi Narayan is grateful for sponsorship from Air NZ, Frangi, Multi-Contractors and the Banana Court. The Banana Court has also kindly donated two trophies. One for a Junior boxer of the night and one for the Club of the night
This championship said Narayan is the first step in the process of selecting a team to represent the Cook Islands at the Pacific Games in Samoa next year. Before then there will also be a return contest with Tahiti in Tahiti and a contest against a Fijian team. The National Coaches will be on the look out for promising boxers to nurture for future honours.
Narayan stresses that amateur boxing today is not about trying to bash your opponent senseless or about trying to win by knock out all the time as may be the impression given in professional boxing. Today said Narayan, amateur boxing is about winning by scoring points. As soon as one boxer gains a lead of 20 points on his opponent, he is declared the winner and the fight stopped.
Tickets for the event are available from Adi Narayan ph 54 535 and Shannon at the Banana Court ph 29 061 or at the door on the night. There are a limited number of ringside seats for $10 otherwise, adults pay $5 and children $2.
Full programme and match details on page 12

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