The Day Three afternoon session, which traditionally produces some of the best fights of the Nationals with elite open semi-finals on the card, didn’t disappoint.

The upset of the afternoon came in the second Super Heavyweight semi-final, when the current Arafura Games gold medal winner, was beaten by a Masterton boxer coming back from an extremely long layoff. Lawrence Titter booked a berth in the final after he defeated Siaki Tu, receiving a 4-1 decision from the ringside judges.

Facing the Masterton pugilist, will be Uila Mau’u who took the required decision away from the judges, against Josiah Hirini, with the referee stopping the bout in the third and final round.

Jerome Pampelone will get the opportunity to defend his 2018 Light Heavyweight title after dispatching Colton Seymour-Moir from Kirikiriroa. Three of the judges awarded the bout to the Auckland boxer by 6, 5 and 4 points respectively, with the other two giving Pampellone a 30-27 victory. Canterbury’s Trevor Swainson will meet Pampellone in the gold medal contest, after stopping Rhiane Bishop in the final round.

The battle between the two South Auckland association boxers to grab a place in the Heavyweight final, was taken out by Nic Grantham, who got past Titi Motusaga by way of a unanimous decision. 

The Women’s 69kg title, will be decided between Bay of Plenty’s Ariane Nicholson and Mel McGlynn from Canterbury. The Canterbury boxer was awarded the semi-final contest against Palea Fruen, when the referee ended the contest with the result RSC injury. Nicholson got past Helen Paumolevuka earning a unanimous decision.

Elite Semi-Finals 4 October - Results

EM 81kg (L/Heavyweight)     Trevor Swainson (Cant) df Rhiane Bishop (Otago) RSC R3

                                                Jerome Pampellone (Auck) df C Seymour-Moir (Kirikiriroa) 5-0

EM 91kg (Heavyweight)        Nic Grantham (SABA) df Titi Motusaga (SABA) 5-0

EM 91+ (S/Heavyweight)       Uila Mau’u (Cant) df Josiah Hirini (Shamrock) RSC R3

                                                Lawrence Titter (Masterton) df Siaki Tu (Auck) 4-1

EF 69kg                                  Mel McGlynn (Cant) df Palea Fruen (Auck) RSC Injury

                                                Ariane Nicholson (BOP) df Helen Paumolevuka (Auck) 5-0

Article added: Saturday 05 October 2019