Hmm, the famous skip punch is in fashion
Westywarrior, I saw the skip punch also, but was afraid to say anything. Too controversial.
Hahaha I just saw it and had to come here and give Diehard some grief about the skip punch. Glad you guys were onto it.
James "Batman" Langton eyeing up rematch with Monty Betham
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Disposed New Zealand cruiserweight boxing champion James "Batman" Langton felt he was flat in his title defence against Monty Betham on Tuesday night.
Langton, 42, lost a unanimous points decision to Betham following the 10-round bout at the Super 8 Fight Night in Auckland.
"I really struggled to get into the fight and Monty brought the fight to us really," he said. "I wasn't really expecting that. Even though it went 10 rounds, he won most of them, fired off more punches, picked me off and collected the rounds really."
Heading into the fight Langton had won nine straight bouts, generally by going hard at his opponent early.
However, he made a passive start against the former Kiwis and Warriors player and was on the back foot early.
While he did not want to take anything away from the performance of his opponent, Langton believed a recent bout of flu had taken its toll on him physically and he was not at his peak.
"I don't want to make any excuses but I was a bit under the weather and I just couldn't get going and couldn't get my second wind. I was always fighting to get into it.
"I just never felt like I was in it because every round i was working on my breathing. It just felt like I wasn't there."
Betham, 37, fulfilled a long-held dream to follow in his father's footsteps and become a New Zealand boxing champion.
Part of the deal the pair had was for a rematch in Hawera on December 3. Although he initially had reservations immediately after the fight to fulfil the commitment, Langton said that reluctance quickly passed after he had a night to think about it.
"That was probably the worst I could fight and if that's the best Monty can fight then bring it on in Hawera, let's make it a real scrap."
Langton's determination to have another go at Betham was brought on, in part, by some of his opponent's tactics on Tuesday, including the way he was struck repeatedly immediately after the referee had separated them.
"I thought they were dirty shots and I said that to him. I know you should protect yourself at all times but that's how I felt. I'll be more wary of it next time."
Langton believed he would need to "close up" the fight when the pair meet at the TSB Hub, something he did to reasonable effect in the later rounds without ever being able to land a damaging enough combination.
"Maybe I should have done that from the start but I still don't think I would have had the energy. But I just wasn't there.
"That wasn't through a lack of training, I just didn't have it. It was a just a bad day."
- Stuff
Well, Monty Betham punked out and backed out of his fight with James. Found a loophole in the contract and is refusing to come to Hawera for the agreed upon rematch. Would have been a different fight, with James healthy and hopefully not having the flu two weeks out. A real shame.
Langton steps into Hawera ring to battle for a Taranaki little fighter
Little Fighters Trust member Sarah Silver and boxer James Langton are looking for a South Taranaki child to support at the Hawera Rumble on Saturday December 12.
South Taranaki's leading fighter is looking for a little battler to support.
Coastal boxer James Langton will fight an as-yet unnamed opponent on Saturday, December 12 at Hawera's TSB Hub and he'll do it in the name of one special South Taranaki child.
Recently announced as the newest ambassador for the Taranaki-based Little Fighters Trust charity, Langton is hoping the bout will help raise funds to support a child through their life-threatening illness.
Langton and the Trust are calling for nominations of deserving families before 5pm Thursday, November 26.
Little Fighters Trust deputy chairwoman Sarah Silver said the Trust would choose the family to support, but all other nominations would be added to their database with the hope of helping them in future.
Langton has fought in the name of the Trust for about 12 months. Some proceeds from the event will also be donated to Hawera Intermediate School.
Silver said there was a unique synchronicity between the charity and their chosen ambassador.
"Fighting is all about trying to keep well, it's a mental game, it's an emotional game, it's definitely a physical game and so, whichever way you look at that from an illness perspective or a boxing perspective, they're fighting. It's a constant battle to stay on top."
Langton said fighting for a charity and a person or family gave him more motivation when training.
"Knowing you're fighting for that extra purpose, there's a reason behind it as well, that's why I like to get to know the kids better before the fight," he said.
"It's about Taranaki and that's what I love about it. I can go and see the kids and you've got that personal one-on-one (time) with them.
"Fighting for little kids was just a natural cause for me really."
Langton lost the New Zealand cruiserweight boxing title to Monty Betham earlier this year and is determined to fight his way back to the top.
"When you enter that ring you can't be thinking about anything else other than what's in front of you, and that's your opponent."
Tickets for the event on Saturday, December 12 are available at the Hawera i-Site. Those interested in buying tables can contact Kelly Langton 027 416 1586.
Nominate a Taranaki child by providing details of their life threatening illness, and contact details to support@littlefighterstrust.co.nz by 5pm on Thursday November 26.
- Stuff
Boxer Pelea Fruean ready to follow in Joseph Parker's footsteps
JULIAN RAETHEL/Stuff.co.nz
Boxer Pelea Fruean, 15, shows just how quick her hands are in the build up to Serbia.
Joseph Parker is the one who grabs the boxing headlines but his cousin may soon enter the national conscience too.
Pelea Fruean, 15, is Parker's younger cousin and is continuing the family's journey into the ring.
"I love watching him fight. I see him fight and it inspires me," she says.
Pelea Fruean is undefeated after seven fights.
The Auckland secondary school student attends One Tree Hill College and first put on the gloves when she was 12. She used to work out with her towering cousin.
Three years on and Pelea is training every weekday at Box Fit Gym Panmure, both before and after school.
The most appealing thing about the sport is the hard work you have to put in, she says.
Pelea Fruean draws inspiration from her cousin Jospeh Parker.
"It's the hunger to win, the hunger to get in the ring."
Pelea's trainer and former New Zealand champion Regan Foley says his young fighter had hardly thrown a punch before she walked into the world of boxing.
"She's got a lot of potential and natural ability," Foley says.
"If she sticks with it, she's got the flair...the way I want her to look at boxing is not just to win a medal every year, I want her to win everything."
Pelea's record of 7-0 made waves when she scored a points decision victory in New Caledonia against a local boxer on the undercard of a pro fight.
That day Pelea was far from the fan favourite, in what she can only describe as a "surreal" experience in front of a huge crowd.
"Pelea absolutely cleaned up the girl in New Caledonia and made tidy work of it," Foley says.
"She's quite a focused girl. I only really want to train the dedicated...if they don't want it, don't bother turning up to the gym."
Team Fruean confidence is high heading to the Fifth Nations Cup tournament in Serbia in January where Pelea will compete in the junior 60kg division.
New Zealand fighters don't usually get invited to these events due to the high nature of competition already around the Adriatic states, Foley says.
"It's cool, she's having a lot of fun with it too."
Pelea's next fight is at Destiny Church, Manukau on November 28.
Visit givealittle.co.nz/cause/help4pelea to help Pelea get to Serbia.
- Stuff
Great kid, trained at Shamrock boxing until close down.