(JULY 26) Maori female boxer
“The Nightmea” Motu is set to wear the rainbow flag for her
upcoming boxing fight against Rangi Hetet on August 7th at Te
Rapa Racecourse in Hamilton.
The two-weight division New
Zealand boxing champion Mea Motu considers herself as an ally to
the Rainbow and gender diverse communities. All of the people in
the gym that she trains at, Peach Boxing, either has a family
member in the community or is close friends of someone. “I wear
the flag because it does stand for my family and I’m proud to
have takatāpui in my family” Motu said.
Mea Motu started her professional boxing career only nine months
ago. She has remained undefeated in her so far short career with
nine wins and four wins by knockout. She has captured the New
Zealand national (NZPBA version) Lightweight title and the New
Zealand national (PBCNZ version) Super Lightweight title, making
her the third female boxer in New Zealand boxing history to win
New Zealand titles in two division divisions and also in two
different commissioning bodies.
She is set to fight a tough Rangi Hetet on Dion McNabney’s
“Young Guns 9” professional amateur boxing show. The show will
be featuring some of Waikato’s best young talents from all
levels including Junior, youths, elites and the epic clash
between Motu and Hetet.
Mea Motu wanted to show her support for the rainbow communities
and thought wearing the flag would be a nice message. “I fight
for acceptance and equal rights for all sexualities and
genders.” Motu has also taken it a step further by training with
rainbow wraps. Recently Motu has gotten a new mouth guard that
she got to customise herself. She decided to make it glitter
which was inspired by her friend, the New Zealand openly gay
boxing judge Benji Watt.
She has expressed that she would love to see more people from
the LGBTIQ+ communities take part in the sport of boxing and is
excited to see Rainbow Gloves happening in Auckland in February
2022. The new Non-profit organisation Rainbow Boxing New Zealand
will be putting together the event and is supporting Mea Motu
during her professional boxing career. Rainbow Boxing NZ has
sponsored her the flag and the rainbow wraps to help support her
message that she fights for her whanau, for acceptance and
equality.
Mea Motu fights out of Peach Boxing in West Auckland, which is
run by Isaac Peach and his wife Alina Peach. Isaac has two gay
brothers himself and Alina also has a gay brother. They welcome
all people into their gym, where they only judge you on the work
ethic in the gym and in the ring.
Including the Rangi Hetet fight, Mea Motu is scheduled to fight
four more times this year with her taking on Rebecca Hawker for
the Australasian title in September, fighting in her hometown in
November and a WBU World title shot in December against
Wellington fighter Gentiane Lupi.
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