(NOV 4) New Zealand has done well at the World Boxing's Youth World Amateur boxing champions with three New Zealand boxers walking away with a bronze medal in the USA.

Amateur boxing is divided as part of the geopolitical situation surrounding Russia. Instead of one organisation, we now have two with the historical IBA est 1946 led by the Russian leadership, and World Boxing est 2023 which is backed by the Olympics and Boxing New Zealand Inc. The split has even reached New Zealand, creating a New Zealand Boxing Civil war with City Kickboxing Doug Viney creating Aotearoa NZ IBA to combat Boxing New Zealand Inc. supporting World Boxing.

World Boxing has hosted its second tournament overall and first youth world championships with the youth championships for the boxers aged 17 and 18 held in Colorado, from 25 October to 5 November 2024, with athletes from 30 countries competing.

New Zealand has sent eight boxers to compete on the world stage with three boxers returning to bronze medals. W57kg Greer Hall from Waikato, W75kg Nikah Perez from Tauramanui and M90kg Noveki Tomokino from Auckland.

Geer Hall and Nikah Perez were seeded well to guarantee them a medal as they were placed into the semi-finals, guaranteeing a medal. However, Noveki Tomokino was placed in the Quarter Finals, having to work more to get the medal.

Unfortunately, boxers Johnny Kennard, Renee Doole, Edward Richards, and Connor Anderson lost in their first fight and were eliminated. Finbar O'Sullivan won in the preliminary rounds against Finland boxer Aapo Rovanpera, however, lost in the Quarter Finals against Japanese boxer Fuma Kumamoto (who would go on to win gold).

Noveki Tomokino from Pacific Boxing, Based in Otahuhu and trained by Jeff Elia, has had a great career so far winning the New Zealand national amateur championships in 2023 and the 2023 Oceania Championships. He also received a silver medal at the 2024 Male Youth Haringey Box Cup in London. Dubbed the team captain did excellent in the Quarter Finals defeating Ukraine boxer Elizar Moskalenko by second-round stoppage. He would lose his Semi-final fight against American Rishon Sims, securing Tomokino.

Geer Hall from Hit Fitness Gym, Based in Hamilton and trained by Cairo George, has done great in New Zealand and Australia in 2023 and 2024. She won the New Zealand national amateur championships and the 2024 Australian Golden Gloves. She also had an excellent opportunity to compete on the Lani Daniel World title undercard GLOBOX Claudelands Arena. At the World Championships, she seeded well, immediately lifting her to the semi-finals guaranteeing her a medal. However, she lost against England Tiah Mai Ayton (who would go on to win gold).

Nikah Perez is from Taumarunui Silverback Boxing Academy, based in the small town of Taumarunui where boxing is big, trained by Vitale and Amy Perez. Perez at the young age of 17 is already a veteran in amateur boxing. Her Boxrec account has her at 46 bouts, however, Boxrec being sporadic for amateur results, her record could possibly be a lot more.

Perez is already a four-time New Zealand national amateur champion and a gold medalist at the Australian 2023 Queen of the Ring. At the World Championships, she seeded well, immediately lifting her to the semi-finals guaranteeing her a medal. However, she lost against India's Krisha Verma (who would go on to win gold).

WBAN / IWBHF
WBAN Instagram
WBAN Facebook

WBAN / IWBHF WEBSITES
www.womensboxing.org
www.womenboxingrecords.com
www.wban2012.com
www.wbanmember.com
www.floridaboxing.com
www.iwbhf.com
www.wban.tv
WBAN's Group Facebook