While the build-up to the 2021 Boxing New Zealand National Championships to be held in Wanganui is in the today - the deeds and achievements of past championships and champions, while faded into history, set the platform for the future.

Brian Kendall set a record that is unlikely to ever be overtaken. The Canterbury boxer contested 20 National championship bouts, winning every single contest. His record shows that he won 102 of his 107 bouts, winning one junior and seven national titles in eight consecutive years.

A fifteen year old Brian Kendall, started the ball rolling at the first NZBA National Junior Championships, held in Greymouth in 1962. His first national championship win, was over Mike Treacy, who would go on to win the Light Welterweight senior crown in 1968. Brian won his first national crown when he out-pointed John Wright from Manawatu in the 48kg title decider. 

Brian wrote his name into the sports history, winning the first edition of the Sommerville Cup, awarded to the most scientific junior national champion.

The 1963 Christchurch Nationals saw the Canterbury pugilist make his senior debut in the Flyweight division. He ended his first bout against Allan Donaldson by the short route, going on to defeat future two-time Flyweight champion Wayne Young, before winning a points decision over Kaepli Mu in the final. In addition to the receiving the Artie Beban trophy, Brian was awarded the Bill O'Connor Cup given to the youngest senior titleholder.

A step up to Bantamweight in 1964, saw Kendall dispatch defending champion John 'Doc' Wills in the preliminary action, before defeating Laurie Ny in the final.

A further jump up the weight divisions in 1965, into the Featherweight ranks, saw Brian gunning for his third successive senior title. Ron Griffin and John Middleton were out-pointed, before he defeated well-credentialed Hawks Bay boxer Ivan Woodham in the final. He was also awarded the national championship supreme prize of the Jameson Belt, given to the most scientific senior boxer.

Kendall was in a hurry at the 1966 Rotorua nationals, when he dispatched Joey Santos and Shorty Clements by way of a TKO decisions. In addition to his fourth senior title, in beating Barry Cummings, he became the first boxer to win back to back Jameson Belts.

A journey to Greymouth in 1967, had Brian chasing a three-peat of Featherweight titles. First up he defeated John Wright, who he out-pointed in 1962 to win his first (junior) title, before dispatching Dennis Enright in the final. Enright would go on to a sterling professional career, packing out Invercargill Halls during the 1970's. 

The 1968 Palmerston North National Championships, saw the Canterbury fighter set his sights on the Parisian Cup awarded the Lightweight National titleholder. In the preliminary bouts,  Kendall dispatch Ruffle Pulega and Ossie Manukao, before beating Dennis Enright for the second successive year.

The 1969 Nationals hosted in Gisborne,  was Brian Kendall’s swansong taking him to seven senior crowns without tasting defeat. Teddy Tamai was defeated in first-up before he beat Hawkes Bays John Snook, to write his name into the sports record book forever.

Commonwealth Games selection completed a busy year for Kendall in 1966. After beating Singapore and Jamaican opponents, Brian took Australian Darryl Norwood to the wire before losing a 3-2, which gave the Christchurch boxer a Bronze Medal.

In 1970, Kendall was again selected for the Commonwealth Games, held in Edinburgh, Scotland. First up he successfully got past a Papua New Guinea opponent, before losing another close decision, going down by way of a 3-2 split decision to a Pakistan boxer.

Brian Kendall – NZBA National Championship Record

New Zealand Junior (Under 16) Champion

1962    Christchurch                 48kg Champion

Defeated Mike Treacy (Hawkes Bay) Points

Defeated John Wright (Manawatu) Points 

Won Sommerville Cup – Most Scientific Junior Boxer

New Zealand Senior Champion

1963 Christchurch                    Flyweight Champion

Defeated Allan Donaldson (Southland) TKO 2

Defeated Wayne Young (Auckland) Points

Defeated Kaepli Mu (Wellington) Points

Won Bill O’Connor Cup – Youngest Senior Titleholder

1964 Wellington                       Bantamweight Champion

Defeated Doc Wills (Ashburton) Points

Defeated Laurie Ny (Canterbury) Points

1965 Dunedin                           Featherweight Champion

Defeated Ron Griffin (Otago) Points

Defeated John Middleton (Auckland) Points

Defeated Ivan Woodham (Hawkes Bay) Points

Won Jameson Belt – Most Scientific Senior Boxer

1966 Rotorua                           Featherweight Champion

Defeated Joey Santos (Auckland) TKO 3

Defeated Shorty Clements (Taranaki) TKO 3

Defeated Barry Cummings (Westport) Points

Won Jameson Belt – Most Scientific Senior Boxer

1967 Greymouth                      Featherweight Champion

Defeated John Wright (Manawatu) Points

Defeated Dennis Enright (Southland)

1968 Palmerston North            Lightweight Champion

Defeated Ruffle Pulega (Wellington) TKO

Defeated Ossie Manukao (Auckland) Points

Defeated Dennis Enright (Southland) Points

1969 Gisborne                         Lightweight Champion

Defeated Teddy Tamai (Rotorua) Points

Defeated John Snook (Hawkes Bay) Points

1966 Commonwealth Games – Kingston, Jamaica (Bantamweight)                           

Defeated – N Virabhak (Singapore) Points

Defeated – C Henry (Jamaica) Points

Lost – D Norwood (Australia) Points (3-2)       Bronze Medal

1970 Commonwealth Games – Edinburgh, Scotland (Featherweight)

Defeated – P Yang (Papua New Guinea) Points

Lost – S Mir (Pakistan) Points 3-2

1967 Australasian Featherweight champion

Article added: Friday 09 July 2021