Last Saturday night I was ringside at the Tauranga Boxing Club fight night in Judea. A full house witnessed an entertaining programme starting with ten amateur bouts, followed by three corporate contests, with the night finishing with a short, sharp professional four rounder.

The best amateur bout was fought between Tauranga Boxing gym's Gunnar Jackson, and John Leighton from Auckland. Jackso, along with his Saturday night's opponent will be contenders for a New Zealand title in Rotorua during October.
A split decision in the Light Heavyweight three rounder showed how close the contest was – with Jackson receiving the judge's nod.
Corporate boxing is the new phenomenon to hit a sport that dates back over two thousand years. Corporate or white-collar boxing, is so called because it has traditionally been practiced by white-collar professionals. It is an extension of box-fit classes, where participants get the opportunity to challenge a suitably matched opponent in the ring.
For the record, in Saturday night's corporate contests - Shane Murphy beat fellow Tauranga gym member Gilers Greening, with Matt Franklin and Simon Anderson defeating Napier opponents.
While there have been plenty of boxing tournaments in Tauranga over the years, the city has never had a reputation as a fight town. Towns like Rotorua and Tokoroa have garnered a reputation for producing a number of well known pugilists.
Boxing New Zealand records show that a Bay of Plenty Boxing Association was established in Tauranga during 1921, and a Tauranga Association in 1946. The 1940s and 1950s was the golden age of boxing in the country, with every town and hamlet in New Zealand having a boxing gym.
There were a number of gyms in Tauranga and the Mount. The region produced two New Zealand amateur champions in the sport's golden days, with Gerry Sims annexing the Heavyweight crown in 1958 and Dave Black the Light Middleweight title in 1960.
One trainer that was around in that period was Gib Roper. He had a gym in the sawmill near Pemberton Park in Greerton. The former King Country boxer, who competed in the squared ring during the 1930's, had a love of the fight game that lasted up to the day he pasted away, a few years ago.
Gib Roper was ringside the night that the next Tauranga boxer annexed a national crown in 1991. Fighting before a home crowd at the QE2 Youth Centre Daryll Leabourn won the New Zealand Lightweight championship, and the Bill O'Connor Cup presented to the youngest senior titleholder.
The previous winner of the O'Connor Cup was David Tua. I first cast eyes on the Tuaman in 1988 at the Otumoetai Trust when a fifteen year old Tua fought a much older opponent. The crowd were on its feet as Tua despatched Nigel Anderson to the canvas several times on his way to victory.
While women's boxing is a recent arrival on the scene, one of the best women boxers in the country comes from Tauranga. Five time Lightweight champion Kelly Woolrich has also won Oceania and International tournament medals.
Last year the latest Tauranga national champion emerged when Anthony Taylor won the Light Welterweight title. Taylor also received the O'Connor Cup as the youngest senior champion.