Benji’s New Zealand Boxing Awards 2021
This year similar to 2020, we have had a tough year with lengthy lockdowns and a lack of active events across New Zealand. Despite having long lockdowns, New Zealand has managed to have 24 boxing events with professional fights and over 55 amateur fights. Here are the award winners this year and why.
Boxer of the year - Jerome Pampellone (Peach Boxing)
Male Boxer of the Year - Jerome Pampellone (Peach Boxing)
As we all have had trouble having boxing events this year, Jerome has managed to keep busy with nine fights in 2021. What is also remarkable is the fact he fought two pro fights in one night on the 11th of December. That is generally only been seen in eight-man tournaments but for Jerome, he did it to keep busy and improve his record. Jerome is a boxer that New Zealand Boxing should be proud of, keeping busy, improving his rankings and willing to take on all comers. We hope to see Jerome fight in the new year against John Parker for the NZ title.
Honourable mentions
Joseph Parker
With his victory over Junior Fa and fighting twice this year against Dereck Chisora, he was certainly a contender for boxer of the year, however, as we all know, the higher he climbs in the ranks, the less we see him in New Zealand.
Andrei Mikhailovich
Successfully defending his New Zealand title against Shay Brock and fighting over in Australia against Alex Hanan. Unfortunately, Covid lockdowns have held Andrei back to being more active especially when there was a lot of potential big fights both here in New Zealand and over in Australia.
Floyd Masson
The New Zealand born boxer that fights in Australia has had a good year this year. Winning the Australasian title in July and a massive win against Mark Flanagan for the Australian title. Only reason why he didn’t win would be due to not fighting in New Zealand, however, he has made New Zealand proud, especially being now ranked in top 30 on boxrec.
Female Boxer of the year - Mea Motu (Peach Boxing)
For the second year in a row, Mea Motu has won the Female boxer of the year. There is no questioning that she is the best female boxer in New Zealand today. She fought six times this year, winning two New Zealand titles in two different weight divisions with two different boxing commissioning bodies. She is just one win away from holding the most New Zealand titles in the female division breaking the record the Daniella Smith holds that is tied with Mea, Geovana Peres and Lani Daniels. Mea Motu finishes 2021 with an undefeated record of 10 wins.
Male Amateur Boxer of the year - David Nyika (Hit Fitness HQ)
Winning the Bronze medal at the Olympics has not happened since David Tua won his own Bronze Medal in 1992. New Zealand is extremely proud of him and his accomplishments in the sport. Unfortunately, he might be New Zealand’s last Boxing medalist as boxing may be removed from the Olympics.
Female Amateur Boxer of the year - Erin Walsh (Peach Boxing)
The Irish boxer Erin Walsh wins this year’s female amateur boxer of the year. She fought six times this year winning five out of the six bouts. On top of that, she won the New Zealand national amateur championships and the North Island Golden Gloves. She is now ranked number one in New Zealand in her weight division on Boxrec as an amateur. Rumour has it she might be turning pro next year. Last year Erin Walsh was an honourable mention, this year she take the title as the female amateur boxer of the year.
Gym of the year - Peach Boxing
Upset of the year - Sequita Hemingway (Snapback Gym)
Debut of the year - Sequita Hemingway (Snapback Gym)
17th of July Sequita Hemingway made her professional debut. She has only had a few corporate fight experiences and no amateur boxing experiences. Her sports background is playing professional rugby. On her professional debut she took on WBC and WBA ranked boxer Alrie Meleisea. After defeating Alrie Meleisea by majority decision she shot up the rankings to 2nd in the world on Boxrec. It was a complete surprise that this happened which shows anything can happen in boxing.
Male Newcomer of the year - David Nyika (Hit Fitness HQ)
He might not be a newcomer in amateur boxing however he made his professional boxing debut this year and already he is off fighting in England on a Joseph Parker undercard.
Female Newcomer of the year - Sequita Hemingway (Snapback Gym)
Being ranked second in the world after her debut fight certainly qualifies her for being the best newcomer. Especially winning her first fight against a New Zealand Champion and world-ranked boxer.
Returning Female boxer of the year - Gentiane Lupi
Former WIBA World champion and Former New Zealand Champion hasn’t been in a boxing ring since 2019. She came back to fight a multiple New Zealand amateur champion and won by TKO. Gentiane Lupi is a true female fighting legend.
Returning boxer of the year - Liam Messam
We have not seen Liam Messam, who trains out of HIT Fitness HQ, in the boxing ring since 2015, but he made his return this year, winning by Unanimous Decision on a Nigel Elliott show against Joe Ageli. Liam Messam is due to return to the ring next year.
Trainer of the year - Isaac Peach (Peach Boxing)
Isaac Peach is one of, if not, the best trainer in New Zealand today. Statistically, his fighters are the busiest and most successful, more than any other gym. That all comes down to the work ethic of the fighters, the gym environment and the work that Isaac puts into his boxers.
Promoter of the year - Isaac Peach & Craig Thomson
This was a tough one to choose as both deserve this award. Both make major contributions over the years but this year both promoters did three events, both had New Zealand titles on the events and both benefited the boxing community.
Matchmaker of the year - Isaac Peach (Peach Boxing)
Its amazing how much Isaac Peach does for the New Zealand Boxing community. Not only as a trainer, as a promoter, but also as a matchmaker. Not only does he do professional matchmaking for his own shows and other show like P3 Promotion events, but he also does the amateur matchmaking for the Auckland amateur events as well.
New Promoter of the year - Diane Beazley
Retired boxer that turned to promoting, promoted her first event this year. Her event had amateurs, corporate and professional boxing. The professional boxing fight of the night was Pikiao Tairua Bracken stopping Arapeta Werahiko in the 4th round. It was a hell of a fight to finish off a great show.
New Zealand fight of the year - Andrei Mikhailovich vs Alex Hanan
This award is for the fight between two New Zealand boxers. This fight did happen in Australia but they are both New Zealanders. This fight was extremely entertaining from the press conference to the knockout. The fight had you at the edge of your seat before the bell evan rang. This is one of my favourite fights I have even seen and is well deserving of this award.
New Zealand international fight of the year - Floyd Masson vs Mark Flanagan
New Zealand born boxer Floyd Masson defended his Australasian title against Mark Flanagan who put up his Australian national titl on the line. This was one of the best first of the year, matching Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder. It was a close fight, however, Floyd Masson took home the titles by Split Decision.
Knockout of the year - Andrei Mikhailovich KO Alex Hanan
Of course the New Zealand fight of the year going to have a knockout of the year. It was one hell of a knockout.
New Zealand National champion of the year - Mea Motu
Mea Motu won both of her New Zealand titles this year, winning the NZPBA Lightweight title against Tania Reid and the PBCNZ Super Lightweight title against Michaela Jenkins. Next year she is booked to fight for two title for the vacant PBCNZ Featherweight title in february and vacant PBCNZ Lightweight title in March. If she wins, she will not only break the Daniella Smith record, but also create a new record that would be hard to match.
International Champion of the year - Floyd Masson Australasian Champion
Floyd Masson won the Australasian title against Australian Joseph Liga in July and then successfully defended it against Mark Flanagan recently. He is now ranked high enough where he can be an international contender.
Referee of the year - John Conway
John Conway is one of the best referees in New Zealand. This year he has been busy with refereeing Joseph Parker vs Junior Fa, Mea Motu vs Tania Reid, Ariane Nicholson vs Genah Fabian and many many more.
Judge of the year - Darcy Williams
Aside from myself of course, Darcy Williams is the best judge in New Zealand. This year he has also been busy being both judge and referee across New Zealand. One of the most noted fights he judged this year is Nikolas Charalampous vs Joshua Francis for the New Zealand title. However that fight ended early.
MC of the year - Isaac Savage
Isaac Savage has come so far since his first time being MC. Now that Dan Hennessey has left for Australia, Isaac Savage is the top man for New Zealand announcing.
Commentator of the year - Dale Husband
Another man who is a MC is also a commentator Dale Husband. He is very good commentator and communicator. He is entertaining both in the rind as an MC and on the table at ringside. He gives both jobs that extra style that makes things entertaining.
Non Boxer of the year - Benjamin Thomas Watt
This is probably the last time I would be awarding myself this as I have decided to do less each year. I always put everything to the sport of boxing including editing boxrec, Judging corporate, amateur and professional fights, editing wikipedia pages, writing articles, running backstage at shows, commentating for gladrap, running a non profit LGBT boxing organisation and many many more.
Event of the year - Duco Events Joseph Parker vs Junior Fa
With the amount of hours, money and time that went into this event, it is well deserved to get this award. Especially since it was an all New Zealand show that was televised all across the world. Of course it was extremely entertaining for people to boo the announcement of the lockdown that was put in the next day.
Most entertaining boxer of the year - Andrei Mikhailovich
He is the most entertaining boxer in New Zealand. He has personality, he can talk, he can sell well and he can deliver. He has a massive future and I believe he is a future world champion