Bridgette Sefton produced a stand-out performance as her New Zealand Fight and Fitness Academy gym dominated the Otago Boxing Association tournament in Dunedin on Saturday.
In just her second fight since a two-year break from the sport, Sefton outclassed Queenstown's Nicky-Ann Kay, winning by a majority points decision in their three-round middleweight contest.
After a close first round, Sefton (18) landed several three-four punch combinations in the second.
Halfway through the round she landed a left hook, followed by a stinging right, and referee Ross Stubley gave Kay a standing eight-count.
Kay was gallant and tried to battle back, but Sefton kept her at bay, scoring freely in the third round with some big punches.
The NZFFA had boxers in 11 of the 12 fights at the tournament, winning seven of them.
NZFFA owner and trainer Ryan Henry said the hard training his boxers had done had paid off, and he was especially pleased with Sefton's performance.
Henry's son, Awatea, won his first three-round fight against Isaac Scott (Olympic Gym). He beat Scott by stoppage before losing his second fight by a points decision (13-9) to Rakai Matika, of Gore.
Matika and Awatea Henry were two of four cadet/novice boxers to have two fights.
Matika was the only boxer to get two wins.
He showed good footwork and hand speed to beat NZFFA's Shade Darroch in his second fight after Darroch had earlier out-pointed Stahn Gee (Olympic Gym) 10-7.
NZFFA boxer Alex Hannan was unlucky not to get two wins.
He lost his first fight on a countback to Invercargill's Jasen Scobie, and then beat Gee 14-5.
One of the best fights of the day was the only other female bout, between Siraya Wilson (Olympic Gym) and Natalie Stewart, of Nelson.
After three gruelling rounds, Stewart beat a visibly annoyed Wilson 25-19.
Wilson landed some big punches in their middleweight bout and came close to ending the fight in the first round when she hit Stewart with a strong right hook.
Referee John Ensor gave Stewart a standing eight-count.
She not only survived the round but scored some fine head and body shots in the remaining two rounds.
However, Wilson can count herself unlucky because she was the one who landed the harder punches.
About 180 people watched the final fight as Cameron Yung (NZFFA) and Christian Tikao (Ashburton) put on a fine display of clinical boxing in their three-round welterweight bout.
Both scored freely and went toe-to-toe, exchanging blows for most of the fight. Yung eventually prevailed 46-45.
After the fight, All Black Tamati Ellison presented both men their medals.
OBA president Colin Falloon said the high score was an indication of the preciseness of both men's punches.
He was delighted with the tournament.
Its aim was to give Otago boxers exposure and an opportunity to test their skills, and he was confident that had been achieved.
"All our boxers are aiming towards the nationals at the end of the year so we want to give them as much time in the ring as possible," he said.
Fights were named in honour of late Otago boxing identities Billy Leckie, Joe McNally, Alan McDonald and Tommy Trinder.
Otago boxers will travel to Canterbury in a fortnight for a tournament against their southern rivals.
