Ati packs a winning punch at NZ champs

EAST Coast boxers fought their hearts out and were rewarded with a fistful of medals at the New Zealand championships in Lower Hutt.
Wairoa’s Ati Te Tomo won gold in the 60-kilogram female cadet division. She showed all her experience in a dominant 27-11 win over a gutsy Summer Lake (Central North Island) — leading 10-3 after round one and 18-8 going into the third and final round.
Silver medals went to Ahiwera Cirikidaveta (Hicks Bay, 75kg cadets), Hoki Gilbert (Wairoa, 63kg female junior), Neha Karaka (Tokomaru Bay, 36kg cadet) and Hone Waitoa (Ruatoria, 54kg cadet).
Two Wairoa fighters won female cadet golds unopposed — Rangipaea Gilbert (57kg) and Ati’s cousin Ashlee Te Tomo (69kg).
The four-day tournament attracted a record 195 entrants, including 10 from the East Coast association, which covers an area from Hicks Bay to Wairoa.
Rawiri Rangihuna (Tikitiki, 36kg cadet) was the first East Coast boxer in action. He was 2-0 down after round one of his preliminary bout against Joshua Mataele (Shamrock Auckland), found some rhythm in the second to close the gap to 3-2, but could not match his opponent in the third round and lost the bout 13-5.
Hara-Bailey Sadlier (Ruatoria, 42kg cadet) was unlucky to miss out on the final. He led Madison van Sitter (Central North Island) 8-6 after two rounds but lost 13-12, much to the surprise of many, after both boxers upped the pace in round three.
Hard-hitting Cedric Carter (Hicks Bay, 60kg junior) was locked 9-9 with Panuve Helu (Auckland Boxing) but Pelu used his jab better in the third to set up a 17-11 win.
Cirikidaveta had an intriguing 75kg cadet final against Isaac Prasaad (Kirikiriroa). Cirikidaveta used his reach advantage to keep his shorter opponent at arm’s length while Prasaad tried to work his way inside to score.
Both showed plenty of respect for the other’s punching power, which resulted in a lot of movement in the ring. Prasaad, however, threw more combinations in the hot zone to take the bout 9-3.
Hoki Gilbert never stopped trying in her 63kg junior final against Roxanne Halkett-Duff (Central North Island) but the latter was more accurate, and was always ahead on her way to a 16-8 win.
Karaka beat Shannon Anaru (Central North Island) 11-5 in a preliminary 36kg cadet bout. It set up a final against Jason Adams (Central Auckland). Despite a solid effort from Karaka, his opponent had the edge to win 13-8.
Waitoa traded blows with national title-holder David Faatape (Central Auckland) for the 54kg cadet title. Both had speed to burn, with Faatape leading 3-2 after the first round and Waitoa taking more risks to level it 4-4 by the end of the second. Faatape poured on the pressure in the third and Waitoa was unable to match the intensity, losing 8-4.