Host club Riverside Kickboxing fielded four fighters in the 17-match lineup that attracted athletes from around the South Island.
Riverside light heavyweight Hayden Coe took on Invercargill’s relentless Cameron Fox in the third battle, both solid from the opening bell until Coe’s commanding reach advantage and expert right-hand proved major factors in his unanimous points victory.
Clutha light-cruiserweight Hugo Bruning took technical knock-out courtesy of Dunedin’s Jackson Wallace, at one stage unable to fight his way out of his opponent’s corner before yeilding to a second-round ten-count.
Riverside heavyweight Fyn Edwards looked in charge in the first round against Charlie Hutt (Christchurch), the points lead exchanged in rapid kick trade-offs, with punches looking to decide.
Hutt, however, kept more in the tank for the last round and took a unanimous victory.
Super-heavyweight and local hero Taumarewa Kershaw proved his courage merely by entering the ring against Levi Smiler, descending from the north to prove he only had one setting: Full-on.
Short-work showed his aggression could have continued on the ground as Kershaw fell three times and the fight stopped early in the first round in favour of the Christchurch fighter.
The first main event, for the International Sport Kickboxing Association South Island, full Muay Thai Welterweight Title was equally swift.
Ford Gerbes (Ashburton) lashed out with lightning kicks but Shaun Spencer (Christchurch) got inside, the savage mauling of his close technique leading to his first-round victory after Gerbes failed the 10-count.
Spencer said the plan was to "take my time, look for openings and pick my shots".
The final main event pitched Dunedin’s Reign O’Connell against Invercargill’s Thomas Heads for the best super-cruiserweight of the night.
Both men began alert and determined, unleashing flurries of kicks and pounding punches, the fight decided in the second round as Heads weathered three shocking onslaughts with incredible endurance, including an O’Connell uppercut that was pure science, and the third round put the entire crowd on their feet in admiration of the chivalry of both warriors.
"It was like boxing a brick wall," O’Connell said of his unanimous win.
"I’ve had hours-long sparring sessions where I’m not as worn out as I am now."
Heads was equally ready with praise for the victor.
"I’m just proud to go the whole distance against Reign.
"He was really fighting from the heart tonight," he said.
Chief organiser, Riverside Kickboxing’s Robert Ngari-Dean was well-pleased with the third local event.
"The code of sportsmanship among tonight’s fighters was inspiring," he said.
"Everyone likes the venue, we’re building on what we learned and looking forward to 2025 now people are looking to Balclutha as a South Island kickboxing hub."
