Next up, in the buildup to the 2024 Boxing New Zealand Championships, we look back thirty years to the 1994 titles held in this year's host city of Christchurch. The 1994 Nationals in the Garden City proved to be an Olympic and Commonwealth Games launching pad.

Since 1924, just 29 Boxing New Zealand fighters have received the ultimate accolade of representing their country at the Olympic Games. Heavyweight representative Garth da Silva, became number twenty-four, when he entered the ring at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996.

Garth won the first of his four national crowns in Christchurch, in 1994. Da Silva defeated defending champion, Aukoso Ene from Auckland, to start his journey towards Olympic selection.

Two of his national championship titles were against fierce rival, Angus Shelford, who would go on to earn a berth in the Super Heavyweight ranks at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.

Garth would win a Commonwealth Games Bronze medal at the 1998 Games in Kuala Lumpur. The boxer, who honed his early skills in army competition, won his first two preliminary contests, before being defeated by a fighter from the Seychelles in semi-final action.

While da Silva was an Olympian in waiting in Christchurch, the 1994 Jameson Belt winner, had already tasted the Olympic Games experience during 1992; alongside David Tua and Sililo Figota at the Barcelona Olympics.

Light Welterweight, Trevor Shailer, made the 64 kilo division his own in the early 1990s. The Manawatu boxer swept the light-welter title five times, from 1990 to his last in 1994.

Shailer joined the list of Kiwi Commonwealth Games medalists, after he was selected for the 1994 Commonwealth Games held in Victoria, Canada. Two preliminarily wins took him to the semifinals, when he dropped a close decision to Mark Winter from Northern Ireland.

Another Commonwealth Games Bronze medalist, from the Christchurch class of 1994, was the Bill O’Connor Cup winner, Kalolo Fiaui, who hailed from Whakatane.

Fiaui, who would go on to his second Commonwealth Games in 1998, showcased his exciting non-stop action style in four visits to the Canadian ring.

After beating a Zimbabwe opponent first-up, the young Bay of Plenty pugilist overpowered Englishman Andrew Green, with the referee stopping proceedings in the first round.

Kalolo, made the last four in the Lightweight competition in a battle royal with Australian, Joseph Zabalky, to earn a hard fought 14-12 point’s victory. Hometown favourite, Mike Strange, from the host nation, proved one bridge too far for the Kiwi, who won his country's second boxing medal of the Games.

Two further 1994 National Champions, in Middleweight title holder Sam Leuii and the winner of the Welterweight crown in Colin Hunia, would be selected for the Victoria Commonwealth Games.

Super Heavyweight victor Fai’i Falamoe, would have to bide his time for his Commonwealth Games debut, before earning selection for the 1998 event in Malaysia. He lost a relatively close encounter to Audley Harrison, who would go on the win the Olympic Super Heavyweight title, in Sydney two years later.

Steven Wood, who is regarded as one of the most popular boxers to grace a New Zealand boxing ring, won the Light Middleweight crown. Woodsy was a genuine boxing showman and showed his joy after beating Tony de Vorms from Tokoroa.

Cantabrian Greg Bell won his third straight Light Heavyweight title decider to the delight of a large partisan crowd. Featherweight victor Wade Turner, and Flyweight competitor Noelo Lopez, also had their names recorded in the Boxing New Zealand roll of honour, in their home town.

The NZ Boxing Council Cup, awarded to the most scientific Intermediate age boxer, was presented to Emmett Gradwell, trained by Ave Luxon in Oamaru.

Junior boxing excellence was recognised with the presentation of the WP Sommerville Cup, to the most scientific junior boxer, in Lindley Todd from Canterbury. Todd was mentored by well-known Christchurch trainer Jimmy Dickson.

1994 NZBA National Champions

Super Heavyweight    Fai'i Falamoe (Auckland)

Heavyweight               Garth da Silva (Canterbury)

Light Heavyweight     Greg Bell (Canterbury)

Middleweight              Sam Leuii (Auckland)

Light Middleweight    Steven Wood (Manawatu)

Welterweight              Colin Hunia (Central North Island)

Light Welterweight     Trevor Shailer (Manawatu)

Lightweight                Kalolo Fiaui (Central North Island)

Featherweight             Wade Turner (Canterbury)

Flyweight                    Noelo Lopez (Canterbury)

Jameson Belt               Trevor Shailer

Bill O’ Connor Cup     Kalolo Fiaui

New Zealand Boxing Council Cup    Emmett Gradwell (Oamaru)

WP Sommerville Cup                         Lindley Tod (Canterbury)

Photograph of Trevor Shailer in action - courtesy of the NZ Olympic Committee

Article added: Wednesday 04 September 2024