Ritani-Coe, who will climb into the ring against promising New Zealand boxer Joseph Parker next week, now calls Las Vegas home.
He was once good enough to be picked for a New Zealand age group rugby side. He played prop for the Otago Boys' High School First XV for two years, playing in the same side as future Highlanders flanker Tim Boys, and won selection in a New Zealand under-17 side.
Life, though, can take some unusual turns, and Ritani-Coe did not follow the standard path to furthering his rugby career.
Upon leaving school, he did a personal trainer course at Otago Polytechnic and played for Otago Maori, while turning out for the Alhambra-Union club. He then went to join his parents in Queenstown.
That is when he started giving boxing more than a second thought.
''I had always done some sort of boxing training,'' he told the Otago Daily Times from Las Vegas yesterday.
''When I was playing rugby there were the practices on Tuesday-Thursday and then I would do boxing training on Monday-Wednesdays. But then I got serious about my boxing and wanted to qualify for the Beijing Olympics.
''But I broke my hand, so that scuttled that dream. Then I started getting into judo and juijitsu.''
He followed a friend to Canada, living on Vancouver Island for a few months, before he headed south to Las Vegas. He has been there more than five years and is loving it.
It was in Vegas that he found what he called the Mecca for a fighter.
''There are literally gyms everywhere here. Hundreds of them. It could not be any different than living in Queenstown. If you are into boxing or MMA [mixed martial arts] then this is the place to be.''
He became more focused towards MMA and the ultimate dream for the 27-year-old was to qualify for UFC. He helped Wellington-born fighter Dylan Andrews get into the UFC and has also sparred with other fighters.
But after being offered the fight against Parker last month, the focus switched to the boxing game.
Ritani-Coe has recorded three wins, a draw and a loss in his short boxing career, having lost his last bout in November.
He was confident his 125kg fighting weight would be fine to take on Parker. He had once been up to 150kg.
Ritani-Coe, who is married to fellow New Zealander Sophie Hyde - the couple have no children - trains during the week and works in the weekend at the prestigious Marquee Las Vegas nightclub, in security.
''It is a pretty amazing place to work. It has been voted the best nightclub in the world,'' he said.
''Last week we had Richie McCaw walk in. I saw this reasonably big bloke walk in and thought, I know that guy. We had a bit of a yarn, talked about Otago Boys' and that, so that was kind of cool.''
He has studied footage of Parker and said he looked a quick, talented fighter, who would have a good fitness base.
''But I feel as though I'm in good shape. I have been working hard and training two to three times a day.''
The fight will take place next Friday, in Irvine, California, and for Ritani-Coe there is no rest afterwards.
''I have to go back to work straight afterwards. So I won't have time to muck around. Just back here and straight into work.''
