Shamrock at Rotorua
April 12

Joshua Wete at 60kgs went in against H Heeney from East Coast Bays as 1st fight up for the Club. The fight was all go for the three rounds, both boys at 15 years old and similar weight were well matched and both brought their all to the table. Josh Wete displayed his class and showed why he is the top contender of the division, He outboxed Heeney using skill and technique to win this fight unanimous on all cards.

Simona Lokeni at 77KGs came next in his 1st fight ever against J Christien from Whakatane. Christien proved too tall and well drilled for Simona, although Simona made several attempts to cut the distance between them, Christien had all angles covered. The fight went to the older Christien on all cards.

The return of Tekauenga Lee

TK Lee  the current National Intermediate Middleweight Champion has returned home to the Shamrock after a period of about ten months away. TK, has found  that true boxing techniques cannot be found in just any gym, regardless of location. The Shamrock is proud that TK has returned to once again enjoy training with his old team buddies and be part of the SBA and the gym under its auspices.

Hobart Results - Shamrock
March 15th 2008

The Shamrock team arrived in Hobart on Thursday 13th tired from an early morning start and long waits between flights. They were there to box against a Tasmanian selection including South Australia and Victoria on Saturday 15th. Host for the Promotion was Hobart’s PCYC Head Coach Merceedas Taaffem, (Sligomerc).

First up for Shamrock held at Hobart Racecourse Lounge saw Josh Wete at 60.3kgs facing Jacob Jury from South Australia. The slightly older more experienced Jury was taken back by Wete’s technique and had difficulty finding a home for his fuselage. Josh ran the boy ragged to win a unanimous verdict over three rounds.

Next up saw Daena Stephenson (Shamrock’s MDB) stepping up to a supposed exhibition with Hobart’s PCYC 29yr old Leisha Vaughan. Daena’s jab and perfect timing witnessed a complete shutout on Vaughan’s attempt to make any impression for her PCYC training facility. The style and technique Daena brought to the table completely overwhelmed the Australian Trophy Awards Jury who were suitably impressed awarding her with The Harry Robertson Award for the  best female boxer, and the Peter Lord Award for the Best Technique overall of tournament.

Nathan Service then came in against Hobart’s PCYC Lincoln Reynolds in a 66kg contest, this fight saw Reynold’s desperate in an attempt to set the terms and fire big right hands leaning into the punch which didn’t set up the follow-up in case of a miss. Miss he did as Nathan cleverly avoided the bad intentions and used feet and clever boxing to win on a majority decision to what should have been in my view, unanimous.

Main event of the evening belonged to Te Awamutu’s Rangiputa Wallace and Adelaides Kristy Rootes. Kristy started fast in Round 1, with the weight advantage she upset Wallace a little and Wallace becoming unbalanced was sent to the floor, it took the rest of the round for Wallace to regain her stability. Rounds 2-3 took a different turn when Wallace settled into the fight, she pressed the action to bring her ‘in yer face’ technique to get the Australian onto the back foot. Wallace improved her momentum as the 3rd round progressed taking domination over the tiring Kristy Rootes. However, sour grapes aside, the Judges blundered to award the contest a majority decision to their own girl. An outright injustice! Wallace had pulled the deficit back from starting stanza to supersede in the final round. One Australian Judge saw it the same way. 

The team was accompanied by Shamrock Head Coach Ron Foley
and Manager Jim Johnstone.

Shamrock Club advancing through 2008

Club fighters:

Scott Taliauli (81kgs) L/Heavy. Experienced – Senior / looking for form

Afa Tatupu (98kgs) S/Heavy. Nil – Senior / ready to go

John Fetelika (105kgs) S/Heavy. Nil – Senior / back from injury

Alan Thomas (91kgs) Heavy. Nil – Senior / new and hungry

Vili Tuitupo (100kgs) S/Heavy. Novice – Senior / sick of the couch

Kieran Foley (67Kgs) L/Welter. Experienced – Senior / IrishKiwi return

Rachel Seaton (75kgs) M/Weight. Nil – Senior (female) / can't wait

Aung Sander (60kgs) L/Weight. Experienced – Senior / Gulliver's travels

Nathan Service (67kgs) L/Welter. Experienced – Intermediate / new vigor

Josh Wete (59kgs) L/Weight. Experienced – Junior / won't be beat

Daena Stephenson (66kgs) L/Welter. Novice – Junior (female) / best ever

Simona Lokeni (71kgs) M/Weight. Nil – Junior (jst 13yrs) / rugby & boxing

Eugene Bykalo (69kgs) W/Weight. Nil – Senior / gearing up

Tiola ? H/W – (Female) Senior. details later. / as fit as

Aniva Laulu – (Female) Corporate Boxer. details later. / anxious to start

More to come. Updates and new members coming through.

Shamrock Boxing Club

Annual Awards 2007

Most promising beginner = Simona Lokeni

Most developing skill and punch power per body weight = Alex Dickson

Most developing skill & natural talent & promising fighter = Afa Tatupu

Most improved & most technically sound boxer = Josh Wete

Most fortitude & resolute boxer – willing to change = Nathan Service

Most willing performer & courageous – on short notice = Scott Taliauli

Most accomplished boxer (back to Shamrock) Daena Stephenson

Shamrock female star with 5fgts = 5 wins!! 1 ABA Champs, 1 GGloves Champs, 1 Itntl = Aust! NZ National Title. 2007.

-----------------------------------

Shamrock Sportsman of the year 2007

Josh Wete  

7fgts = 6 wins!! 1 GGloves Champs, 1 Itntl!! 2007
(Outstanding at National Champs).

Josh is now on Nutritionist plan coming up from a body fat reading of 5.1

(Skills & Talent bereft of delivery )

2008 defines true value!

Panmure Christmas Parade Exhibition

Panmure Community Hall

December 1, 2007

The Panmure Christmas Parade Exhibition went off very well on Saturday with our two star performers Daena & Josh.

We came on in front of a good sized crowd about 1.30 on outside stage in the afternoon. Vili Tuitupo commentated throughout the event, he gave a really good introduction of Shamrock and its fighters and training techniques beforehand. We did a padwork display which involved both boxers, then they got down to it.... for 2 rounds! Both were impressive in displaying their skills with the crowd exclamation when daena seemingly took a hard one from josh late in round 2.

It was good for the boxers to get out in public without the nerves of competition, and good for the public of Panmure and around to see what hard work and dedication can achieve. Awesome also to see a boy and girl with skills can apply it together in competitive exhibition.

Written by Ron Foley (coach)

NZ National Champs 2007

 Held at the Active Zone from 20th to the 22nd September

Although Shamrock fighters did not make the finals in this tournament, they all did amazing well to accomplish a standard of boxing to equal and better their best performance. That is all except Scott Taliauli (81s) who suffered reoccurring bouts of flu to make the final 10 days of preparation a dash into no mans land. Josh Wete (57j) at ten fights to his credit and nine wins did an amazing job in going the full distance with a pumped up experienced fighter in Mahommed Ali, the score margin rang away as in some of the earlier bouts but Wete’s performance was brilliant considering the psychological gap. Nathan Service (64i) the ever improver had a tough consignment against the eventual champion and undefeated since 2004 Ricky Murphy. Having a bad run over the course of the year through different variables, Nathan Service along with the other Shamrock fighters left his heart in the ring and did a sterling job in fight back to note a warranted change in confidence and along with Josh Wete leave a warning not to underestimate them for the next Champs in Hutt Valley in 2008! Once again the judges were drunk in the handling of the computer scoring buttons and the score ran away with what was actually a lot closer fight.

Highlight for the Shamrock is the return of outstanding junior female fighter Daena Stephenson. Daena is junior Champion 2 years running now. This is a girl who has displayed Shamrock boxing skills to the maximum and despite fighting away from the Club for the past few months she has always been noted as a Shamrock stylist and as International Coach John McKay described it: “although she drops her left hand to a ridiculously low level since she’s been away, she still has the stamp of Shamrock”! Daena has returned home.

Shamrock Association Tournament

Lagoon Stadium, 44 Lagoon Drive, Panmure. September 8, 5pm start.

Australians -VERSUS- New Zealanders
___________________________________________________

Shamrock Association Tournament

Ozzie Encounter

Australian boxers from the famed Shamrock Gym at Budrim, Sunshine Coast came out of their comfort zone to take on the Kiwis on their own turf. With Coach Mike Foley and very loyal assistant Paddy Hamlin six fighters weighed in to present a formidable fighting squad. Five ended up with matched fights while Junior novice welterweight Nick Wilcoxson did an exhibition with Tyson Whalley from the always dependable Whalley family at TeAwamutu. Wilcoxson’s pre – matched opponent Chad Milnes from Northside gym was pulled out at short notice.

 Panmure’s Shamrock Club originally had four matched entries with Super Heavyweight Afa Tatupu’s opponent being withdrawn because of flu virus and Light Heavyweight Scott Taliauli’s opponent Australian Jeff Taylor declining to board the plane at Queensland Airport.

As usual, Junior Featheweight Josh Wete was on hand to compete and square up to the more experienced boy from Budrim, Luke Cole. Josh came out in fine style in round one with combinations and angles to just simply outclass Cole and fetch a healthy 10 to 5 points margin by one judge. The Ozzie edged back a bit in round two under the instructions of experienced Coach Mike Foley in the red corner and faced up to Wete’s assault to take that round on a narrow margin by two judges. Wete however, showed his metal, and came again in the third to outlast Cole and take the win. Josh Wete always displays improvements, but also proved that his fitness levels need to be addressed if he is to triumph to the finals at the NZ National Champs in 10 days time.

Lt Welterweight, Nathan Service was 2 nd fight up for Panmure Shamrock Club, he came against tall 17 yr old Jesse Ross, another Queensland fighter. Nathan came out sharp and ready with crisp punching to bewilder the Australian in the 1 st round and go ahead by 8 points on one judges scoresheet. Round two saw Ross cope a little better with instructions from his corner to give it right back, which he did, causing Nathan to realize where his fitness was… but that same judge still gave him that round by 9 points to 6. The third round however proved a fitness barrier as Cole pressured Service to take the fight by majority points, two judges to one. While the older Jesse Cole outlasted Service in this lead up to the Nationals it can be noted that the improvement and determination displayed by Service in this encounter despite the fact he is recovering fitness from a flu virus, puts him in great position to take out his division at the upcoming Championships providing his fitness is improved.

Wade Foley fighting out of his Dad’s gym in Budrim, gave a grand display of power punching against NZ National Lt-Heavyweight Champion Zig Zag Wallace, the fight was the action pleaser and proved the one to remember as the final bout of the night. Wallace proved his durability and fitness to withstand the onslaught and triumph in the end by a slim majority decision, one judge scoring it even. It may be pointed out that the tournament was not judged by computer international scoring and according to a top official Foley would have fared better had it been so. Also, despite the heavy punching provided by Foley, there were no 8 counts awarded, had there been so, the fight may have ended prematurely. Wade’s grandmother remarked, “is this a political decision or not”? Zig Zag however, took the risk of being KOed or stopped eleven days away from the National Titles, if he had been he would have been ruled out of the competition due to the 28 day mandatory stand down period, food for thought………..? It is to Wallace’s credibility he took this fight with the danger to the Championships, and this fight will put him in great shape for a favorable outcome, and the Shamrock Association wish him and the Whalley family all the very best.

Shamrock Boxing Association

Results

for Ozzies versus Kiwis

Lagoon Stadium, Panmure Sep8 - 2007

RED CORNER BLUE CORNER

Senior Super Heavyweight 4x2 Win to Blue - Unam

Fighting Fit ( Auckland) - William Quarry V Umika Chinula - Shatford ( Christchurch)

 Junior Flyweight 3x2 Win to Red – RSC2

Aust - Tony Davis V Brad Day – United (Whangarei)

 Intermediate Welterweight 3x2 Win to Blue - Unam

Central- Jake Fleming V Craig Tehoro – Fighting Fit ( Hamilton)

 Junior Featherweight 3x2 Win to Red -Maj

Aust -Jake McArdle V Kaine Warren – Colins Gym (Rotorua)

Junior Featherweight 3x2 Win to Blue - Unam

Aust - Luke Cole V Josh Wete – Shamrock-NZ

 Senior Middleweight novice 3x2 Win to Blue - Maj

United (Whangarei) -Josh Bowman V Edwin Samy – Fighting Fit ( Auckland)

 Intermediate Lgt Welterweight 3x2 Win to Red - Maj

Aust -Jesse Ross V Nathan Service – Shamrock-NZ

 Senior Middlleweight 4x2 Win to Red - Maj

City Gym - Justin Potter V Robbie Berridge- Northside

 Senior Lgt Heavyweight 4x2 Win to Blue Maj

Aust – Wade Foley V Zig Zag Wallace – TeAwamutu Sports

Pukekohe Sunday August 5th

Competing on a 15 fight card put together by Counties Boxing Club at the Cosmopolitan Club, Nelson St, Pukekohe.

Shamrock Junior boxer Josh Wete going into his 9th amateur bout out of the red corner in fight 8 against Intermediate boxer Ben Stafford of Colin’s gym, Rotorua, gave 2 years in seniority away to secure a bout at this event. Wete started evenly against the older boy with good jabs and follow ups in the early stage with the stronger Rotoruian getting the upper hand, Wete was forced to apply a smother tactic he is familiar with in some success in previous bouts, the speed of application was overwhelming for Stafford and he succumbed to an 8 count before the end of the round. Round 2 and Wete came out in similar continuous action forcing the 2nd 8 count before the Referee stopped contest giving Wete the win in fine fashion with a minute to go in the round. Another good win to Josh record stands at 8 wins and 1 loss.

Next up for Shamrock in fight number 12, and fighting out of the blue corner was Intermediate 63kg boxer Nathan Service coming in against Pukekohe’s own Tim Barns out of Counties Boxing Club. This fight displayed good boxing skills from two experienced boxers with over 20 fights apiece. Nathan Service proved the sharper and crisper puncher of the two coming in with speed jabs and follow up right hands, he was able to compile a handy points lead against the hooks and counter crosses being the center of Barnes’ game. Service continued in much the same style, beating Barnes to the punch and gathering confidence to come to his angles and score with upper-cuts and left hooks in the closing chapter. This was an excellent win for Nathan Service who was suffering from a lack of focus and rhythm in the early parts of the year due to untimely incidents outside of boxing. He now seems back on track with record of 24 fights.

Shamrock fighters are looking to step in preparation for the National Championships at North Harbour the 19 th of next month. Lance Revill’s tournament on the 18 th of this month Pakuranga Football Club should see Shamrock represented by Josh Wete, Nathan Service, Scott Taliauli and Afa Tatupu.

Coaches at ringside were Hayden Heta and Ron Foley.

New coach for Shamrock

Alexander Dickson

Alexander Dickson known as Alex, brought his son (also Alex) into the Shamrock Boxing Gym on the 7 th of April and dropped him there to begin a wee bit of boxing training. It wasn’t long before we realized at the gym that the 17 yr old lad with the Scottish noise had been schooled a little in the noble art of self defence. Young Alex didn’t talk his Dad up too much with us at first, but it didn’t take us long to realize his family had a little more in common with the pugilistic sport than most people venturing their offspring through our humble doors.

Alex Dickson senior is indeed an experienced participant in the sport of boxing. Fighting out of Larkhall in Scotland Alex senior compiled a compelling record over several years, having over two hundred amateur fights and featuring in many high profiled events, Regional and National no less than 13 times. As well as becoming the Scottish and British champion in his weight several times, he represented his country at the Commonwealth Games in Australia 1982 and again at the Commonwealth Boxing Championships in 1983 where he became Champion in the lightweight division. He was a quarterfinalist at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 1984.

Alex began a professional career in 1985 and had 14 fights undefeated before capturing the United Kingdom Lightweight title in October 1987. Alex fought in the professional ranks for eight more encounters at Lgt-welterweight before retiring in 1990. Alex’s twin brother John also fought professionally out of Larkhall, Scotland.

Now living in Kohimaramara, Auckland, Alex has joined the coaching team at the Shamrock and will be an integral participant in shaping an exciting batch of new fighters for the Clubs future. With links to Scotland in an Irish Gym, come in and ask for Alex by name, he will readily engage you in the finer aspects of coaching and the rudiments of a successful boxing career.

Shamrock Boxing Association

Inaugural Event

Results from June 23 - 2007 Panmure Community hall

The first in Panmure for some thirty years, which saw some competitive matching from across the top half of the North Island and culminating with a final fight of the evening involving a member of the Samoan Team, Leti Leti 57kgs against a very game but heavier fighter from the famous Whalley family in TeAwamutu, this fight went the distance of the Senior ranks at 4 by 2 minute rounds with Leti Leti displaying the boxing skills that the packed Community Hall had come to see, he outboxed significantly his bigger adversary and at times, one was to wonder where the referee was to be found to give Whalley the much needed respite of an eight count as Leti Leti applied lethal combinations with both hands and connected with solid rights to gain victory over the internationally inexperienced Hayden Whalley. One must also remember that the visiting Samoan Team is their A-selection, and are liable to outclass the opposition at the local tournaments where the top NZ selection are held over for the main international promotions elsewhere in Auckland at a later date.

Josh Wete the Maori Tornado hit form as the only Panmure Shamrock boxer to perform at the event. Wete won the Tainui Trust Trophy in a step up fight against Morgan Young from TeAroha. The 15yr-old Young weighed in at 61 Kgs with 8 fights while 14yr old Wete came at 56kgs and 7 fights. The fight started with Wete following his game plan and coming out at the bell and scoring 1st, stepping back and coming again strong to keep his bigger opponent on the back foot, the round ended reasonably even with perhaps the stronger boy having the advantage early to the judges. The superbly fit Wete kept the pressure up though in the 2nd and gained the ascendancy using his angles and lateral punching to win the round. Although the heavier puncher Young was able to score with some luck in the 3rd, he was unable to avoid an 8 count from the relentless Tornado that swept his way. Wete won the bout by unanimous points decision. Fight fans should take notice of this young fighter in the future, he will do this community proud and become a fighter of note. This was Wete’s 1st fight since winning the Golden Gloves Championship in his weight division in defeating his two opponents by the short route and winning the final in the 1st round..

Written by Shamrock Coach, Ronan Foley.

Golden Gloves

North Island Boxing Championships

Great Lakes Centre – Taupo – 26-27May 2007

Shamrock Club had three nominations entered in different weight divisions in this tournament, Lightweight 60kgs Junior – Josh Wete, Lightwelterweight 64kgs, Intermediate – Nathan Service, Lightheavyweight 81kgs Senior – Scott Taliauli.

First up for Club in the afternoon of the 26th was Nathan Service versus J Ngatai an experienced lad fron Rex Jenkins gym at Rotorua. This fight was a big step up for Nate whose last fight was at National Champs 2006 in the 57kg division. Crafty Rex Jenkins sent his boy in to brawl and negate the fine boxing skills possessed by Nate Service, the fight was a shutout and won by Ngatai 18-3 on the computer scoring. Nathan Service is a resilient lad and will bounce back to his winning ways and KO form of 2006, lookout for him at TeAwamutu on Saturday June9.

Josh Wete came next on the evening session, he had drawn A Mataio from Hamilton. Everyone who knows Josh also knows he is a tough, very fit and well conditioned young Maori/Irish 14 yr old who takes no backward steps and consequently is always there to win… Mataio proved no contest and was stopped by Wete in Rd2. This put Josh into the finals the following day against the winner of the other preliminary in the division K Warren trained by Colin Hunia of Rotorua. Warren was a tall competitor and had annihilated his opponent of the day previously in one round, this however did alter Josh Wete’s will to win the title. Feeling great and buoyed from his win the day before, Wete went out at 1st bell and stopped K Warren in just over a minute in round one to become the Junior Golden Gloves Champion in the 60kg division 2007.

Scott Taliauli was meant to fight NZ Light heavyweight Champion Zig Zag Wallace of Te Awamutu on day one, however, just as he was preparing to enter the ring the fight was postponed till the next day due to there being too many fights for the time limit allowed in the hall. This had an adverse effect on Taliauli, being a Tongan he had gained a whopping 3kgs since weigh-in at 7am that same morning. He had to weigh-in again at 7am the Sunday morning and fight at 9am. It was 10.30pm and he needed to be 81kgs as opposed to the 84kgs he was now weighing, he vigorously set about losing the extra poundage, he got down to within .7 before retiring with very little to eat at 11.45pm. He was up next morning at 5.45 with more skipping and shadowboxing to finally make the weigh-in right on the mark of 81kgs.

Considering Scott had not fought since April 2006 he put up a great effort to lose to Wallace on a two point deficit on computer scoring (pricks of things). Scott fought a very good fight for being so long away from the ring and this being only his 2nd fight in two years. One has to consider how the fight might have turned out had he not been up half the night shedding weight and going to bed on an empty stomach.

Lookout for the Shamrock team at Panmure Community Hall on June 23 rd. The visiting Samoan team is scheduled to make an appearance there also, with bouts arranged through the Auckland Boxing Association.

The Tournament at Panmure will be brought to you through the auspices of the newly formed, Shamrock Boxing Association and will begin at 7pm. A first for Panmure.

Written by Ronan Foley – Chief Coach Shamrock Boxing