Sideline Sid Sports correspondent & historian www.sunlive.co.nz

Western Bay of Plenty fight fans are in for a rare treat in July 2023, with the staging of the Boxing New Zealand National Championships in Tauranga.

The Boxing New Zealand amateur boxing showcase, is being held in Tauranga for just the second time in 111 years, since the first titles held in Christchurch in 1902.

Tauranga is not generally regarded in the sport as a "Fight Town", unlike Rotorua, who have a myriad of boxing clubs, which date back to the sports glory days of the 1960's.

It is thirty-two years, since the BNZ Nationals were held at the QE2 Youth Centre in September 1991.

The makeup of the sport has changed dramatically since the Nationals came to Tauranga for the first time. Amateur boxing, was a male-only sport in the country until 1997, when women were given the green light to compete in the squared ring.

While time has washed away the memories of the majority of the 1991 champions, one titleholder went on to become a world name in professional boxing.

Then, little-known outside the confines of the sport in New Zealand, David Tua, used the 1991 National Championships to launch his glittering career.

Just two years previously, a 16 year old David Tua shook up the glamour division senior heavyweight competition, when he hammered his opponent into submission in the title decider.

Back to back titles came in Christchurch, in 1990, with the trifecta being completed in Tauranga twelve months later.

The Tauranga victory earned Tua a trip to Sydney for the 1991 World Amateur Boxing Championships. Victory against a Swedish opponent, propelled Tua to meet one of the great amateur boxers of all time, in Cuban Felix Savon.

The outstanding Cuban boxer, clinically defeated the game New Zealander, to give David Tua a World Championship Bronze medal.

Less than twelve months later, David became the twenty-third Kiwi to enter the Olympic ring, at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games. Two preliminary victories by the short route, propelled Tua to the medal rounds where he squared off with Nigerian David Izonritei

After a hectic battle, Tua lost a close decision which earned the New Zealander a Bronze medal, to become the only Kiwi boxer to win an Olympic and World Championship medallion.

Professional boxing scouts sat ringside at the Barcelona Olympics with David receiving plenty of attention.

After taking some time to consider his options, he signed with veteran professional boxing mentor Lou Duva and his Top Rank organisation.

The rest as the saying goes, is history, with David Tua establishing his credentials as one of the hardest heavyweight punchers of all-time. Evidence of the Tua punching power is provided by 43 stoppage victories in 59 outings in the professional ranks.

History shows us that the New Zealand boxing legend, defeated a number of future or former World Heavyweight champions, with just five stains of defeat on his 59 fight record card.

Last year, David Tua was accorded one of boxing highest honours with his induction into the Boxing Hall of Fame.