Five international fights will feature on the card of an amateur boxing event being held in Queenstown tonight.
The ''Clash of the Tasman'' at the Queenstown Memorial Centre will feature 13 fights, ranging from 54kg cadet novice to 69kg elite welterweight.
Unfortunately, the resort's top boxer, Richie Hadlow - who won a national title in Queenstown last year - has been ruled out after breaking his hand in training last week.
Event organiser Stewart Mitchell said while it was disappointing for Hadlow, who is chasing Olympic qualification, the depth of talent in the area meant it was not hard to find a replacement boxer.
Auckland's Boaz Peach has stepped into the breach for the last fight of the night, against Australian 64kg champion David Biddle.
Flu has forced Timaru's Oakley Laurie to withdraw from his fight, against Queenstown's Wesley Martin in the 81kg youth novice light heavyweight.
Canterbury's Kaelen Boyce, a New Zealand champion, fights Australian champion Bailey Seabourne in the 54kg junior open, New Zealand 69kg champion Ryan Scaife (Wellington) fights Australian 64kg champion Jack Seabourne, Dan Parkin (Auckland) fights Australia's Terry Nickolas in the 72kg elite light-middleweight, and Chad Milnes (Auckland) clashes with Australian silver medallist Ryan Goodes in the 64kg elite light-welterweight.
Mitchell said the event, which was likely to sell out, would give Queenstowners a rare chance to watch top amateurs in action before they headed overseas to represent New Zealand.
Boyce, Junior Acero, also of Canterbury, and Auckland's Kyle Chen will fight in the World Junior Games in Russia, while Scaife and Keegan O'Kane, also of Wellington, will compete in the Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa. Parkin and Milnes are fighting in the Elite Oceania Games in Australia.
