The lens of time, caught the winners of the senior championships at the NZBA National Championships held in Tauranga in 1991, at various stages of their careers.

The (then) New Zealand Boxing Association landscape was a different vista some thirty-two years ago.

There were just three grades of competition at the Central North Island Boxing Association hosted National Championships, in 1991 - with the senior competitors joined by intermediate (16-17 years of age) and junior (12-15 years) male title contenders.

Female competition was some six years in the future - with the first female national titles not contested until 1997, in Taupo, with just two title contests.

Heavyweight title winner David Tua, would go on to gain huge respect in the professional ranks, in a long and illustrious career against the best heavyweight boxers of his time.

Tua won his third national crown in a row in Tauranga, while still a teenager, when he defeated fellow Auckland boxer Kipa Tasefa in the last fight on finals night. A 1991 World Championships Bronze Medal was followed by a similar coloured medallion at the 1992 Olympics, before signing professional papers.

Light Welterweight champion, Trevor Shailer, claimed the second of seven national crowns in defeating Robbie Walker from the host association.

Time has declared the (then) Manawatu pugilist as one of the finest to have laced on gloves in the New Zealand ring. Five Light Welterweight titles and two Welterweight crowns, are just part of the Trevor Shailer role of honour. Olympic representation, four Jameson Belts, and a Commonwealth Games Bronze Medal, tell the tale of his excellence in the squared ring.

Auckland Bantamweight, Gary Jago, won the big prize at the Tauranga Nationals in being awarded the Jameson Belt. His win at QE2 Youth Centre was number two in four successive national titles.

The Bill O'Connor Cup, presented to the youngest senior titleholder, was taken out by hometown favourite Daryll Leabourn who represented the host association. Leabourn defeated Aucklander R Ah Lam in the Lightweight final.

Commonwealth Games (1990) Bronze medalist Nigel Anderson had a barnburner in the Light Heavyweight title decider against Greg Bell, before earning his third national crown.

Another 1990 Commonwealth Games Bronze medalist to win a national title in Tauranga, was Sililo Figota, who represented Samoa at the 1990 Commonwealth sporting event. Figota lifted aloft the Sommerville Cup, which is presented to the Light Middleweight champion, after defeating Canterbury's Kevin Rickerby.

Auckland Middleweight Sam Leuii, defeated future Commonwealth Games (1998) representative Colin Hunia, for the first of his five consecutive Middleweight titles.

The 1991 National Championships senior championship winners were rounded out by Welterweight champion Nuka Woods and Featherweight victor Johnny Wallace. Woods beat CNI representative Chris Walker while Wallace got past 1990 Commonwealth Games representative Danny Masterson.

89^th NZBA National Championships @ Tauranga 4-7 September 1991

Senior Champions & Finals results

Super Heavyweight       Paea Wolfgramm (Auckland) unopposed

Heavyweight                 David Tua (Auckland) defeated K Tasefa (Auck)

L/Heavyweight              Nigel Anderson (Dannevirke) defeated G Bell (Cant)

Middleweight                Sam Leuii (Auckland) defeated C Hunia (CNI)

L/Middleweight            Sililo Figota (Auckland) defeated Kevin Rickerby (Cant)

Welterweight                 Nuka Wood (Whangaroa) defeated C Walker (CNI)

L/Welterweight             Trevor Shailer (Manawatu) defeated R Walker (CNI)

Lightweight                   Daryll Leabourn (CNI) defeated R Ah Lam (Auck)

Featherweight                Johnny Wallace (Well/Hutt Valley) defeated D Masterson (Auck)

Bantamweight               Gary Jago (Auckland) defeated Nigel Noonan (Cant)

Jameson Belt (Most scientific senior boxer) Gary Jago

Bill O'Connor Cup (Youngest senior titleholder) Daryll Leabourn

Article added: Wednesday 03 May 2023