1976 The Beginning:
Shamrock Boxing Club was founded by Ronan Foley and emerged from what was originally Foley's Boxing Gym. Opened first in Palmerston North, boxing was introduced to school Foley's sons in the art of defending themselves and in the best interests of the coaches son Floyd Foley - who won the clubs first NZ Amateur Boxing title in 1978 as a light-middleweight, he also fought and beat top NZ amateurs Jimmy Thunder by KO and David Tua by a points decision. Foley's Boxing Gym produced 4 NZ amateur boxing titles in Palmerston North, plus many regional titles during that period.

1993 - Wanganui:
The Club moved to Wanganui and was renamed to 'Shamrock' to better the club's corporate appeal, highlight the Irish favor of the family's heritage and place emphasis on the fighting Irish spirit! Wanganui saw a new batch of top fighters come about and take the club into new levels of competition. Regan Foley became prominent capturing seven national boxing titles and international distinction with a 1997 Number 2 world amateur ranking in light-heavyweight. Seamus Foley was the first fighter to turn professional having only but wins fighting from the club. Wanganui also saw the birth of then up incoming amateurs Santos Pakau, Craig Steedman and Kieran Foley. Wanganui produced eight NZ amateur boxing titles, plus an Oceania gold medal.

Registered coach Kelly Clarke (killed in Afghanistan while serving with the NZ Army) was prominent in the gym in this period. Sandra Walford was another coach to be registered at the Shamrock.

1998-2005 Auckland:
The club now relocated to Auckland for more competition and the opportunity to expand. The youngest Foley, Kieran (lightweight) and Kere Brooks (super-heavyweight) won both senior NZ amateur boxing titles. Scott Taliauli was also ranked a top amateur light heavyweight. Kieran Foley, Scott Taliauli and Kere Brooks represented NZ at Oceania levels, with Kere winning a bronze medal in the super-heavyweight division. The Shamrock has also been involved with top professionals Maselino Masoe and Colin Hunia.

2005-2008:
These 3years saw Regan Foley away into his own Corporate Boxing adventure and resulted in new coaches emerging within the Shamrock Club and new faces in the committee, and the ratifying with BoxingNZ of The Shamrock / EastSide Boxing Assn. While Scott Taliauli remains on the register other fighters have risen to notoriety on the NZ spectre. Nathan Service, Josh Wete and rising female star Daena Stephenson have progressed on the regional scene. Daena and Aung Sanda captured NZ national titles and indeed are set to continue the dominance of their divisions. The Club has new faces for the HW divisions both male and female. Supers –Afa Tatupu, BigJohn Fetelika and Vili Tuitupo are set to burst onto the scene while Alan Thomas and female Tiola are waiting to enter the HW division. Shamrock will have a new professional before year ending!

2009:
Main emphasis in this period was the ratification of ‘SHAMROCK BOXING ASSN’ (SBA) by BoxingNZ and Internal Affairs. The incorporated Shamrock Boxing Club was disbanded and a new era began. Boxers still active at the SBA in this period included Daena Stephenson, Nathan Service, Aung Sanda, Afa Tatupu Simona Lokeni, and the return of Sovantha Meak to the fold. Daena Stephenson did an extensive PR stint for woman’s boxing with life stories in East and Bays Courier, Women’s Weekly and TV1. Daena also captured the 2008 NZ Junior National title in her division. Nathan Service did another fine year in the sport but was extremely unlucky to not get the nod at the 2008 National finals. Afa Tatupu had an amazing debut into amateur boxing, winning four fights by way of 1st Round stoppage, ‘A puncher learning the trade’. Boxfit sessions emerged with Vasco Kovacevic while Hayden Heta took charge of emerging boxers in the General sessions.

2010:
The year ending 2010 proved a tumultuous period with the Shamrock with the cementing of relationships and affiliation of Far North Shamrock Boxing Academy headed by Manuera Rewai and Rick Taylor. This period also saw some of the mainstay Auckland based Shamrock amateurs becoming inactive while others went to the next step and joined the pro ranks. Most notable among the amateurs was 55kg junior warrior Kevin Meak who did well to win Best Losers trophy at 2010 National Champs at Christchurch after a stirling fight performance against more experienced opposition. Chris Martin led the Shamrock Assn squad of two to Christchurch with his own personal charge Hurricane Doyle winning the middleweight crown in the female section. Heavyweight Afa Tatupu joined the pro ranks and carried on his merry way of 1st rd KOes when he Koed Vai Toevai in 2mins rd1 at Mt Wellington Netball Stadium Feb26.

King Afa carried on to cut a pro record in 2010 of 3 1st rd KO wins and suffered 1 defeat at the hands of Junior Pati. Heavyweight Eric Fuimaono Hunt also began a pro career with 2 good wins the most notable KOing Ben Naqasima at ABA Stadium Aug14 with a dislocated right shoulder, the bell sounded rd 2 and Eric dispatched Naqasima with a left uppercut almost immediately. Fuimaono Hunts pro debut was also at ABA Stadium where he outpointed veteran Oscar Talemaira over 4rds. Cruiserweight Filipo Fonoti Masoe joined Shamrock after suffering a loss in in his pro debut in Australia. Filipo fought his 1st fight under Shamrock tutelage in a 4 rounder at Manakau Action Arena on Dec11 and did a great job in defeating Monty Feaua in a unanimous decision With lightweight Aung Sanda deciding to contest the pro ranks in 2011 the amateur squad is left in good shape with the inclusion of breakthrough young boxers into the fresh season under the guidance of Coaches Hayden Heta and Taylor Wiki.

2011:
This period saw change at Shamrock Gym with a decline of amateur boxer numbers with new clubs developing their hiatus in the Eastside Panmure area and Corporate promotions becoming popular. Hurricane Doyle brought joy to the Assn however winning her National middleweight title ChristChurch NZ Champs, Siona Frenandez also highlighted winning her international at Arafura with the Silver medal in the flyweight division.

Professional boxing made its prominence felt through *Afa Tatupu, *Filipo Fonoti Masoe, *Eric Fuimaono Hunt and *Aung Sanda in this period also as in Fightnight at ABA Stadium on February28 when Eric Fuimaono Hunt in the first pro fight of the evening did well to beat Ben Naqasima by KO early in the 2nd rd despite being incapacitated with his right shoulder dislocated for the best half of round one, Dr Dave Renata popped Eric's shoulder back at the break, Eric has subsequently undergone successful shoulder surgery. Then at Judgement Day 1 at ASB Stadium March4 where *Filipo Fonoti Masoe defeated Atalili Fai over 4rds and *Afa Tatupu stopping Ronnie Vaasa in 2.. March19 had *Tatupu defeat Junior Lakopo also in 2 rounds on the Tua/King undercard at Telstra Stadium. Tahiti on May7 at Papeete Stadium got it all wrong with the scoring when they announced New Zealanders losers in all their bouts including *King Afa Tatupu/Temoo Temaititahio, *Filipo Fonoti Masoe/Terii Niufau and *Aung Sanda/Karihi Tehei.

However, they got the decision right at the ABA Stadium on June17 when *King Afa Tatupu KOed Lightning Lupe in round 1 at Judgement Day2, promoted by Bruce Glozier. August13 at Telstra Stadiums Tua/Barret undercard saw lightweight *Aung Sanda stopped in 3 by Wellington's Scott Gardner and *King Afa TKOed in 4 by bigman Joey Wilson. These two bouts marginally controversial with the 8 count rule deleted at last moment to suit the timing of the programme. Tatupu immediately back on his feet after being knocked down with exhaustion was declined the right to continue with 15seconds left on the clock.

New Coach Josiah Mataele and wife Ngalu, two children Joshua and Charlotte joined Shamrock Gym in July and have injected enthusiasm and impetus into the amateur boxers not seen in awhile. Sticking to successful and specific Shamrock coaching methods Josiah has brought his own style of coaching to add to the basics which has already culminated in a win for Shamrock at Pakuranga on September3. Joshua Mataele combined with Siona Fernandez and Hurricane Doyle have been nominated to represent SBA and compete at NZ national champs in Upper Hutt in October. Head Coach Chris Martin and wife Gwen will minister the nationals squad with Josiah Mataele as assistant. SBA President Jim Johnstone will represent the assn at the BoxingNZ AGM.

Women's boxing:
Womens boxing in spotlight Wanganui Chronicle 4-12-96 the focus is again on Women's boxing in New Zealand and Wanganui has been highlighted by the NZ Boxing Council as the focus centre due to it's Boxing Associations submissions on women's boxing to the national annual general meeting in Auckland last year. The submissions were made to the AGM on behalf of Wanganui's boxing interests and the Shamrock boxing gym. This year's national AGM at Temuka ratified the draft rules as set out by council over the past twelve months dealing specifically with the aspect on women's competition. Stipulations of the regulations drafted for the new sport of women's boxing competition include all rules and regulations already specified by the New Zealand Boxing Association governing the conduct of amateur boxing in New Zealand. Added rules for the benefit of women are that bouts must be between competitors only and that no bout, whether or not a decision bout, shall take place involving mixed gender.

Also, there shall not be a weight difference of five kilos or more. Private changing rooms and weigh in rooms will be implemented under the control of the female official of the local association. Further, the pre bout medical examination shall include a declaration that the participant has not suffered an injury or illness peculiar to women and is fully fit to compete and has not become pregnant since her recent registration medical. Female competitors will wear the standard safety equipment head gear and abdominal protector and in addition will wear a proper fitting breast protector approved by the association and adjudged by the officiating female referee. Rounds duration of female bouts shall not be less than one and a half minutes and not over two minutes in the case of more experienced boxers. The one simple knockdown rule states a bout a bout between women boxers shall be stopped after the first knockdown unless the female referee can determine a slip. Women's boxing is now a legal sport in New Zealand and the first bout can be arranged as formal registrations are completed through accredited gymnasiums and endorsed by local boxing associations and passed by the national body. Trish Howie of Auckland, is the only registered female referee in New Zealand at this present time.

There are, however, a number of women sitting their judge's tickets. Wanganui may see the return of Andrea Baker to the judges table after her pregnancy. Andrea featured in the Chronicle last year as an aspiring boxing competitor and judge. Wanganui may also see it's first female competition in March of next year when Shamrock Promotions have scheduled their next tournament.