1993 Apia, Western Samoa - the Boxing New Zealand website

OCEANIA BOXING CHAMPIONSHIPS – PART THREE (1990 – 1999) 1990 Nuka’aLofa, Tonga The 1990 Oceania event in Tonga in 1990 saw David Tua make his Oceania debut with spectacular results. Auckland Middleweight Bob Gasio also won gold in Tonga. Three Australian boxers, who went on to become big names in Australian boxing, resulted in New Zealand returning home with silver medals. After winning three fights on the way to the final stanza, featherweight Danny Masterton was defeated by Jamie Nicholson in the Oceania title decider. In the Welterweight division Andrew Tua tasted defeat when beaten by Graham (Spike) Cheney who went on to win an Olympic Silver Medal. Sililo Figota also surrendered to an Australian challenge when beaten by Darren Obah who would later fight for a professional world title. Featherweight

Danny Masterson (Auckland) Silver Medal Defeated Jean Tangimetua (Cook Islands) Defeated Richard Abel (Fiji) Lost to Jamie Nicholson (Australia) Light Welterweight Trevor Shailer (Manawatu) Bronze Medal Defeated Apal Malone (Vanuatu) Lost to Shannon Taylor (Australia) Welterweight Andrew Tua (Manukau) Defeated Moses Kellets (Papua New Guinea) Lost to Graham Cheney (Australia) Light Middleweight Sililo Figota (Auckland) Silver Medal Defeated Naea Asomua (Western Samoa) Defeated Stephen Hill (Australia0 Lost to Darren Obah (Australia) Middleweight Bob Gasio (Auckland) Gold Medal Defeated Louis Bastellical (Tahiti) Defeated Guy Belbin (Australia) Defeated Walter Pupua (Tonga) Heavyweight David Tua (Manukau) Gold Medal Defeated Otosilo Haviti (Tahiti) Defeated Lisimoni Kami (Papua New Guinea) Defeated Patrick Mafileo (Tonga) Manager Coach Assistant Coach

Trevor Hartley (Waikato) Dr John McKay (Auckland) Mike Treacy (Southland)

1992 Apia, Western Samoa It was the Kiwi big men who returned home with gold medallions from the 1992 Oceania Championships held in Western Samoa. David Tua won back to back Oceania Heavyweight

crowns – going just three rounds in his two bouts. Hutt Valley Super Heavyweight Tony Fiso was taken to the wire in three 3-2 victories before winning the Gold Medal. Bantamweight

Gary Jago (Auckland) Lost L Donaldson (Australia) 5-0 Featherweight Johnny Wallace (Southland) Lost to Jamie Nicholson (Australia) 5-0 Lightweight Kalolo Fiaui (Whakatane) Lost to Henry Kunsi (Papua New Guinea) Light Welterweight Trevor Shailer (Manawatu) Silver Medal Defeated T Falaniko (Western Samoa) 5-0 Defeated S Taulia (American Samoa) 5-0 Lost to Shannon Taylor (Australia) 3-2 Welterweight Nuka Woods (Northland) Bronze Medal Defeated N Smith (Australia) 5-0 Defeated B Vitale (American Samoa) 5-0 Lost to M Tuifao (Western Samoa) RSC R2 Light Middleweight Sililo Figota (Auckland) Lost to Maselino Masoe (Western Samoa) 3-2 Middleweight Sam Leuii (Auckland) Lost S Samuela (Western Samoa) KO R1 Light Heavyweight David Nanai (Auckland) Lost A Ariu (Western Samoa) RSC R1 Heavyweight David Tua (Manukau) Gold Medal Defeated D Cartwright (Australia) KO R1 Defeated E Leti (Western Samoa) RSC R2 Super Heavyweight Tony Fiso (Hutt Valley) Gold Medal Defeated S Pouha (Tonga) 3-2 Defeated R Collins (Australia) 3-2 Defeated S Seneturi (American Samoa) 3-2 Manager Coach Assistant Coach

Sindad Iva (Wellington) Dr John McKay (Auckland) Bill Miles (Hamilton)

1993 Apia, Western Samoa Two Gold Medals from the seven man New Zealand team that boxed in the 1993 Oceania’s in Western Samoa came from differing ends of the spectrum. Rising star Kalolo Fiaui, who went on to win a bronze medal at the 1994 Commonwealth Games, annexed his first Oceania Gold Medal when he sneaked past Australian Andrew Hill 3-2 in the Lightweight title decider. Heavyweight Kipa Tasefa, who took over the mantle of the New Zealand number one in the 91 Kilo division from David Tua, cruised to victory with three 5 nil judges decisions Bantamweight Lightweight

Gary Jago (Auckland) Lost to Koana Vanai (Papua New Guinea) Kalolo Fiaui (CNI) Gold Medal

Defeated Rahui Robati (Cook Island) RSC R1 Defeated Frisco Kivalu (Tonga) 4-1 Defeated Andrew Hill (Australia) 3-2 Welterweight Nuka Woods (Northland) Defeated Masua Ah Sam (Western Samoa) 4-1 Lost to Lyndon Hosking (Australia) 4-1 Light Middleweight Stephen Wood (Manawatu) Bronze Medal Defeated Uale Kauta (American Samoa) Disq R3 Lost to Bob Gasio (Western Samoa) 4-1 Middleweight Sam Leuii (Auckland) Bronze Medal Defeated Harry Kalo (Vanuatu) 5-0 Lost to Mark Bagero (Australia) Walkover (popped shoulder) Light Heavyweight Greg Bell (Canterbury) Bronze Medal Defeated Filipo Vaka (Tonga) 5-0 Defeated Gary Large (Australia) 3-2 Lost to Justin Crawford (Australia) RSC R1 Heavyweight Kipa Tasefa (Auckland) Gold Medal Defeated Sione Tolotau (Tonga) 5-0 Defeated Tulesa Filipo (American Samoa) 5-0 Defeated Robert Stafford (Australia) 5-0 Manager Coach

Brian Tobin (Wairarapa) Sinbad Iva (Wellington)

1994 Port Vila, Vanuatu Port Vila in Vanuatu saw a red hot Australian team, with the majority of the New Zealand boxers dropping decision to their Australian opponents. However one Kiwi star that shone bright was Manawatu Light Welterweight Trevor Shailer, who would go on to join Kalolo Fiaui in winning a Bronze Medal at the 1994 Commonwealth Games. Shailer distinguished himself by shutting out top Aussie Light Welterweights Lee Trautsch and Julian Holland five zip in the semi-final and final respectively. Middleweight Sam Leuii stepped up to the plate in the Middleweight division, also cruising to the Gold Medal with three unanimous decisions. One Kiwi pugilist that had no luck with the draw was Flyweight Danny Hodgson, who drew future world professional champion Hussein Hussein in his first bout, suffering a stoppage in round two. Flyweight Bantamweight Featherweight Lightweight

Light Welterweight

Danny Hodgson (Manawatu) Lost to Hussein Hussein (Australia) RSC R2 Gary Jago (Auckland) Lost to Todd Makelin (Australia) RSCH R2 Danny Masterton (Auckland) Lost to Francis Passingan (Papua New Guinea) 5-0 Kalolo Fiaui (CNI) Bronze Medal Defeated Samson Sam (Vanuata) KO R1 Lost to Traven Hooper (Australia) 5-0 Trevor Shailer (Manawatu) Gold Medal

Defeated Steve Levi (Papua New Guinea) 5-0 Defeated Lee Trautsch (Australia) 5-0 Defeated Julian Holland (Australia) 5-0 Welterweight Colin Hunia (CNI) Bronze Medal Defeated Francis Partch (Western Samoa) 5-0 Defeated David Burchell (Australia) 5-0 Lost to Richard Rowles (Australia) 5-0 Light Middleweight Steven Wood (Manawatu) Silver Medal Defeated Shem Nako (Vanuatu) 5-0 Defeated Luke Wailomania (Fiji) RSC R1 Lost to Bob Gasio (Western Samoa) 4-1 Middleweight Tony De Vorms (CNI) Lost to Armin Diehl (Australia) RSC R2 Middleweight Sam Leuii (Auckland) Gold Medal Defeated Amosa Zink (Western Samoa) 5-0 Defeated Armin Diehl (Australia) 5-0 Defeated David Letiza (Australia) 5-0 Light Heavyweight Greg Bell (Canterbury) Bronze Medal Lost to Gary Large (Canterbury) Heavyweight Mark Wilson (Manawatu) Silver Medal Defeated Joe Saimei (Solomon Islands) 5-0 Lost to Daniel Rowsell (Australia) 5-0 Super Heavyweight Karl Meehan (Manukau) Bronze Medal Lost to Mark Burgess (Australia) 5-0 Manager Coach Coach

Tom O’Connor (Southland) Sinbad Iva (Wellington) Dr John McKay (Auckland)

1995 Nuku’alofa, Tonga Heavyweight Commonwealth Games Bronze Medallist Garth da Silva, won the first of his five successive Oceania titles at the 1995 Oceania Championships held in Tonga. Standing in Garth’s way for the Gold Medal, was Angus Shelford who da Silva eliminated in the semi-finals earning Shelford a Bronze Medal. Garth made short work of the final knocking out Oscar Mika from Western Samoa in the opening round. Three other Kiwi boxers made the title deciders in Nuku’alofa. Lightweight Kalolo Fiaui was defeated by long time rival Henry Kunsi from Papua New Guinea, with Karlo Marsden losing by way of a walkover to Richard Rowles in the Welterweight division courtesy of a broken hand in the semi-finals. Auckland Super Heavyweight Fai’i Falamoe, lost to home town hero Paea Wolfgram, who would go on to win a Silver Medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. The New Zealand domiciled boxer was beaten on points by future World professional Heavyweight champion Vladimir Klitschko in the Olympic title decider. Coincidently 2005 Kiwi Oceania Coach Chris Kenny was in Wolfgram’s corner in Atlanta. Light Flyweight

Noelo Lopez (Canterbury) Defeated Mohammed Hussein (Fiji) 5-0

Lost to Ashley James (Australia) Disq Flyweight Danny Hodgson (Manawatu) Bronze Medal Lost to John Sam (Papua New Guinea) 5-0 Featherweight Andrew McDonald (Timaru) Lost to Lynch Ipera (Papua New Guinea) 5-0 Featherweight Jojo Tipace (Auckland) Lost to Robert Peden (Australia) RSC R1 Lightweight Kalolo Fiaui (CNI) Silver Medal Defeated Apinata Suisala (American Samoa) RSC R1 Defeated Mathew Ben (Papua New Guinea) RSC R1 Lost to Henry Kunsi (Papua New Guinea) 5-0 Light Welterweight Johnny Gwynne (Waikato) Bronze Medal Defeated Saaea Seiuli (Western Samoa) RSC R1 Lost to Rico Chong Nee (Western Samoa) 3-2 Welterweight Karlo Marsden (Taranaki) Silver Medal Defeated Soakai Laumoli (Tonga) Disq Defeated Tobin Rowe (Papua New Guinea) 5-0 Lost to Richard Rowles (Australia) walkover – broken hand Light Middleweight Tony De Vorms (Tokoroa) Lost to Shane Heaps (Tonga) Light Middleweight Stephen Wood (Wellington) Bronze Medal Defeated Peter Rolph (Australia) Lost to Shane Heaps (Tonga) Heavyweight Angus Shelford (Auckland) Bronze Medal Defeated Tene Tu’avao (Tonga) 5-0 Defeated Sione Feimoefiafi (Tonga) 5-0 Lost to Garth da Silva (New Zealand) 5-0 Heavyweight Garth da Silva (Auckland) Gold Medal Defeated Darren Guelfi (Australia) KO R3 Defeated Angus Shelford (New Zealand) 5-0 Defeated Oscar Mika (Western Samoa) KO R1 Super Heavyweight Fai’i Falamoe (Auckland) Silver Medal Defeated Vijay Singh (Fiji) RSC R1 Lost to Paea Wolfgram (Tonga) KO R1 Manager Coach Coach

Gordon Dixon (Wellington) Chris Kenny (Wellington) Grant Scaife (Hutt Valley)

1996 Sydney, Australia The Sydney Oceania’s in 1996, were a major focus for the New Zealand team with the event becoming the Olympic qualifying tournament for the first time. In a move to curb the Olympic boxing numbers, AIBA decreed that just the winner from each division at the Oceania tournament would be eligible to box at the Olympic Games. Garth da Silva earned a 1996 Olympic berth winning three bouts on the way to the Gold Medal and Olympic qualification. A walkover victory over Mark May from Australia, cemented Garth’s

Olympic trip, where he became just the fourth Kiwi boxer to progress past the first round at the Olympics. New Zealand may of have had two Olympic representatives at the 1996 Olympic Games, if Super Heavyweight Fai’i Falamoe hadn’t damaged his shoulder in his semi-final win over Western Samoan Peter Williams. Paea Wolfgram who was the Kiwi boxer’s opponent in the final went on to win the Silver Medal at Atlanta. New Zealand Light Flyweight

Noelo Lopez (Canterbury) Lost to Ashley James (Australia) RSC R3 Bantamweight Danny Hodgson (Manawatu) Bronze Medal Defeated Pat Peni (Western Samoa) 3-2 Defeated James Ratutokorua (Fiji) 3-2 Lost John Sam (Papua New Guinea) 5-0 Featherweight Jojo Tipace (Auckland) Bronze Medal Defeated Harry Kalanuma (Solomon Islands) 5-0 Lost Nedal Hussein (Australia) 5-0 Lightweight Kalolo Fiaui (CNI) Lost to John Simpson (Australia) 5-0 Light Welterweight Johnny Gwynne (Waikato) Bronze Medal Defeated Michael Peterson (American Samoa) Disq Lost to Bryce Neal (New Zealand) Welterweight Andrew Tua (Auckland) No Medal Awarded Defeated Shane Heaps (Tonga) 3-2 Defeated Steven Mathews (Papua New Guinea) KO R1 Defeated David Burchell (Australia) 5-0 Lost to Lyndon Hosking (Australia) Disq R3 Light Middleweight Morven Katene (Southland) Lost to Llewellyn Cleaver (Australia) 5-0 Middleweight Stephen Wood (Wellington) Bronze Medal Defeated David Wolfgram (Tonga) 5-0 Lost to Robert Marinovic (Australia) 5-0 Light Heavyweight Regan Foley (Auckland) Lost to Gary Large (Australia) 5-0 Heavyweight Garth da Silva (Manukau) Gold Medal (Qualified for 1996 Olympic Games) Defeated Yogeshwar Singh (Fiji) RSC R2 Defeated Finau Lavea (New Zealand) 5-0 Defeated Mark May (Australia) walkover Super Heavyweight Fai’i Falamoe (Manukau) Silver Medal Defeated Peter Williams (Western Samoa) 5-0 Lost to Paea Wolfgram (Tonga) walkover – shoulder injury Manager Coach Coach

Ian Law (Auckland) Chris Kenny (Wellington) Grant Scaife (Wellington)

1997 Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea A six man New Zealand team won two Gold Medals at Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea, but were denied a further Gold Medal, when OBA President Arthur Tunstall enforced the AIBA rule where gold medals are not awarded for unopposed titles. The decision cost New Zealand the trophy for the most successful team. Regan Foley boxing in the Light Heavyweight class, won the Kiwi’s first Gold Medal beating Australia’s Justin Crawford in a thriller with Foley awarded a 3-2 split decision. Garth da Silva collected his third Oceania title, stopping Simon Paterson from Australia in round three on finals night. Bantamweight

Danny Hodgson (Manawatu) Bronze Medal Defeated Tarluai Narling (Vanuatu) 5-0 Lost to Howard Gereo (Papua New Guinea) 5-0 Featherweight Jojo Tipace (Auckland) Silver Medal Defeated Alphonse Kalai (Papua New Guinea) RSC R3 Lost to Lynch Ipera (Papua New Guinea) RSC R3 Middleweight Stephen Wood (Auckland) Silver Medal Defeated Ben Kihan (Papua New Guinea) 4-1 Defeated Daniel Green (Australia) 3-2 Lost to Robert Marinovic (Australia) 3-2 Light Heavyweight Regan Foley (Auckland) Gold Medal Defeated John McDermott (Australia) Disq Defeated Justin Crawford (Australia) 3-2 Heavyweight Garth da Silva (Auckland) Gold Medal Defeated Martin Marsh (Papua New Guinea) RSC R5 Defeated Simon Paterson (Australia) RSC R3 Super Heavyweight Fai’i Falamoe (Auckland) Unopposed Title (Oceania President Arthur Tunstall enforced AIBA rule where gold medals are not awarded for unopposed titles – the decision also cost New Zealand the trophy for the most successful team) Manager Coach

Reece Facoory (Auckland) Dr John McKay (Auckland)

1998 Upper Hutt, New Zealand Tournament hosts New Zealand entered two teams in the 1998 Oceania Championships held in Upper Hutt. This was just the third occasion that New Zealand had hosted the Oceania Boxing Championships. It was an extremely busy finals night for the New Zealand support team with nine Kiwi boxers fighting in the title deciders. The final New Zealand tally was three Gold and six Silver medals. The first New Zealand title came early in the last night of competition, with Bantamweight Noah Lopez winning the gold medallion on a 3-2 split from L Tuifao from Western Samoa. The large Kiwi audience then had to wait to the last two contests to celebrate further New Zealand success. Garth da Silva added a further Gold Medal to his collection easily beating Australian Gary

Large, with Fai’i Falamoe knocking out the Tongan representative in the opening round of the Super Heavyweight division. New Zealand A Light Flyweight

Noelo Lopez (Canterbury) Silver Medal Defeated R Fernando (Australia) RSC R2 Lost to S Lockett (Australia) RSC R3 Bantamweight Noah Lopez (Canterbury) Gold Medal Defeated R Lare (Papua New Guinea) 5-0 Defeated L Tuifao (Western Samoa) 3-2 Featherweight Jojo Tipace (Auckland) Lost James Swan (Australia) Lightweight Ramil Abubot (Auckland) Lost Mathew Pauley (Australia) Light Welterweight Robert Walker (CNI) Silver Medal Defeated D Tserama (Papua New Guinea) Ko R1 Defeated David Marsters (Cook Islands) 4-1 Lost to Casey Johns (Australia) 3-2 Welterweight Daniel Codling (Auckland) Silver Medal Defeated J Bolemark (Papua New Guinea) 5-0 Defeated A Pua (Western Samoa) 4-1) Defeated Ben Eckerman (Australia) 5-0 Lost to Lyndon Hosking (Australia) RSC R3 Light Middleweight Myles Dyne (Wellington) Silver Medal Defeated A Gagiraty (Fiji) KO R2 Defeated J Allen (Australia) 3-2 Lost to Richard Rowles (Australia) KO R4 Middleweight Darryl Litchwark (Waikato) Silver Medal Defeated Scott Taualui (Tonga) 5-0 Defeated Peter Maneisi (Australia) 3-2 Lost to S Naea (Western Samoa) 3-2 Light Heavyweight Craig McDougall (Wellington) Bronze Medal Defeated John Afua (Papua New Guinea) KO R3 Lost to Ken Dalton (Australia) 5-0 Heavyweight Garth da Silva (Auckland) Gold Medal Defeated Darren Guelfi (Australia) 5-0 Defeated Angus Shelford (New Zealand) 3-2 Defeated Gary Large (Australia) 5-0 Super Heavyweight Fai’i Falamoe (Auckland) Gold Medal Defeated Paula Kolikata (Fiji) KO R2 Defeated V Lavaka (Tonga) KO R1 New Zealand B Featherweight Danny Hodgson (Manawatu) Bronze Medal Lost to James Swan (Australia) Lightweight Kalolo Fiaui (CNI) Silver Medal Defeated J Tau’aika (Tonga) 5-0 Defeated A Kalai (Papua New Guinea) RSC R4 Lost to Mathew Pauley (Australia) 3-2

Light Welterweight

David Jenkins (CNI) Bronze Medal Defeated A Pula (Western Samoa) 5-0 Lost to Casey Johns (Australia) 4-1 Welterweight Roy Davidson (Wellington) Lost to R Taloshea (American Samoa) 5-0 Light Middleweight Javed Arani (Auckland) Lost to S Talosaga (American Samoa) 3-2 Middleweight Stephen Wood (Wellington) Lost to Francis Partch (Western Samoa) 5-0 Light Heavyweight Stephen McIver (Canterbury) Bronze Medal Defeated T Tuiaki (Tonga) 5-0 Lost to Justin Crawford (Australia) RSC R4 Heavyweight Angus Shelford (Auckland) Bronze Medal Defeated K Maasi (Tonga) KO R1 Lost to Garth da Silva (New Zealand) 3-2 Manager Coach Coach Coach

Reece Facoory (Auckland) Dr John McKay (Auckland) Phillip Shatford (Canterbury) Fraser Boyd (CNI)

1999 Papeete, Tahiti (Introduction of computer scoring at the Oceania Championships) Computer scoring made its Oceania Championships debut at the 1999 Oceania contests in Tahiti. New Zealand’s Gold Medal tally was three. Whakatane Lightweight Kalolo Fiaui won his second Oceania crown when he defeated an Australian opponent on points. In an all Kiwi Heavyweight final Garth da Silva beat Angus Shelford 17-4, with Super Heavyweight Fai’i Falmoe getting past Justin Whitehead from Australia 8-5. Featherweight

Lightweight

Light Welterweight

Welterweight

Welterweight

Jojo Tipace (Auckland) Silver Medal Defeated ?? (American Samoa) RSC R4 Lost to Lynch Ipera (Papua New Guinea) Points Kalolo Fiaui (CNI) Gold Medal Defeated I Pule (Western Samoa) RSC R4 Defeated P Meakes (Australia) Points Robert Walker (CNI) Silver Medal Defeated D Ross (Australia) RSC R2 Defeated Albert Temaititahio (Tahiti) 27-14 Lost to Henry Collins (Australia) Points Emmett Gradwell (Auckland) Silver Medal Defeated K Ragu (Papua New Guinea) Points Defeated I Papu (Tahiti) Points Lost to Jamie Pitman (Australia) Points Daniel Codling (Auckland) Bronze Medal Defeated B Sylvester (Australia) Points Lost to Jamie Pitman (Australia) 15-13

Light Middleweight Myles Dyne (Wellington) Lost to D Marks (Australia) Points Light Middleweight Kahukura Bentson (Auckland) Lost to Chris Hamilton (Australia) Points Middleweight Stephen McIver (Canterbury) Bronze Medal Defeated E Fevaleaki (Western Samoa) Points Lost to I Roberts (American Samoa) 6-2 Light Heavyweight Stephen Wood (Wellington) Bronze Medal Defeated M Kiea (Tonga) Points Lost to Jason De Lisle (Australia) 19-14 Heavyweight Angus Shelford (Auckland) Silver Medal Defeated Tovi Coddy (Tahiti) Points Defeated Sinela Fifita (Tonga) RSC R1 Lost to Garth da Silva (New Zealand) 17-4 Heavyweight Garth da Silva (Canterbury) Gold Medal Defeated J Vaughan (Australia) RSC R4 Defeated S Paterson (Australia) RSC R4 Defeated Angus Shelford (New Zealand) 17-4 Super Heavyweight Fai’i Falamoe (Auckland) Gold Medal Defeated M Tahiata (Tahiti) Points Defeated Justin Whitehead (Australia) 8-5 Manager Coach Coach

Ian Law (Auckland) Dr John McKay (Auckland) Barry White (Canterbury)