The Otago Boxing Association's annual tournament is shaping as one of the better competitions in years with an influx of Canterbury athletes joining the fight.
OBA president Colin Falloon said response to the tournament had been great with a lot of Canterbury fighters keen to make the trip south.
Some club tournaments in Christchurch were called off following the February earthquake and, with the golden gloves in Gore just three weeks away, today's tournament is a good opportunity to get rid of some ring rust.
It is being hosted at the King's and Queen's Performing Arts Centre.
The venue sits about 400 and bouts will begin at 5pm.
Twenty-two bouts have been confirmed but the highlight should be the clash between New Zealand's No 1 ranked welterweight Bowyn Morgan (21), from Christchurch, and 29-year-old Czech Republic immigrant Martin Mech.
The bout will be dedicated to the memory of OBA patron Alan McDonald, who died last weekend.
The fight is expected to be entertaining. Morgan is trained by the national coach Phil Shatford, who is taking a New Zealand team, including Morgan, to the Arafura games in Darwin in a few weeks.
Morgan has more than 50 fights but his opponent also has plenty of experience.
The hard-hitting Mech has had 26 fights with 16 wins and was twice runner up at Czech Republic national tournaments.
"We don't often get fighters of this calibre in Dunedin so we are excited about the contest," Falloon said.
