While the Boxing New Zealand Elite Trials held in Auckland on Saturday (16 February 2019) consisted of just six bouts, due to a number of circumstances including the extremely early start to the competition season, all six bouts were well contested.

Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Tasmyn Benny, re-inked her ranking as the number one Women’s Flyweight boxer in the country, when she defeated 2017 National champion Katie Thompson in the opening bout on the card. Benny took it to her opponent from the outset, to be rewarded with a unanimous points decision from the five judges.

The Women’s Featherweight bout was a repeat of the 2018 National Championships title decider, between current titleholder Tegan Burdett-Clark and Amy Adams. A 4-1 split decision, saw Amy Adams upset the current National champion in a willing contest.

Dominic Roe impressed many at ringside in his contest against Wendell Stanley in the Welterweight division, with Roe earning a unanimous decision.

National Light Welterweight champion Tui Vea was taken to the wire by Michael Crossa in the Lightweight box-off. Crossa who was stepping up to the senior ranks for the first time was having just his twelfth bout and showed his potential, by taking the New Zealand champion to a 3-2 split decision.

Emile Richardson defeated Taranaki newcomer Jesse Mahony by unanimous decision with Miracle Ki winning the battle of the big boys by the same margin.

Boxing New Zealand Elite Trials @ Auckland Saturday 16 February 2019 - Results

Female 51kg: Tasmyn Benny (S Auckland) df Katie Thompson (Auckland) Unanimous

Female 57kg: Amy Andrews (Manwatu) df Tegan Burdett-Clark (Canterbury) 4-1

Male 60kg: Tui Vea (Auckland) df Michael Crossa (Bay of Plenty) 3-2

Male 69kg: Dominic Roe (Auckland) df Wendell Stanley (Auckland) Unanimous

Male 75kg: Emile Richardson (CNI) df Jesse Mahony (Taranaki) Unanimous

Male 91+ kg: Miracle Ki (South Auckland df Siaki Tu (Auckland) Unanimous

Article added: Wednesday 20 February 2019