List of New Zealand light heavyweight boxing champions explained

This list of New Zealand light heavyweight boxing champions is a table showing the boxers who have won the New Zealand professional light heavyweight championship. The title has been administered by the New Zealand Boxing Association, New Zealand National Boxing Federation, New Zealand Boxing Council and New Zealand Professional Boxing Association since 1922. A champion will often voluntarily relinquish the title in order to fight for a higher-ranked championship, such as the world. Where the date on which a champion relinquished the title is unclear.

NameReignDuration of reignTitleDefencesNote
Brian McCleary19 September 1922 – 3 May 1923New Zealand Boxing Association3
Ed Parker13 May 1923 – 12 August 1929New Zealand Boxing Association4Parker was stripped of the title for being overweight.
Title was award to Jim Broadfoot despite the fact that Broadfoot lost the bout.
Jim Broadfoot112 August 1929 – 12 March 1930New Zealand Boxing Association1
Artie Hay112 March 1930New Zealand Boxing Association0Hay Vacated the title shortly after due to retirement.
Jim Broadfoot22 May 1931 – 15 February 1932New Zealand Boxing Association3
Ray Nicol115 February 1932 – 14 February 1936New Zealand Boxing Association6
Harold Reeve114 February 1936 – 29 October 1937New Zealand Boxing Association1
Ern Jacobs129 October 1937New Zealand Boxing Association0Jacobs Vacated the title shortly after due to retirement.
Stan Jenkin122 June 1939 – 5 March 1940New Zealand Boxing Association1Jenkin died on 5 March 1940.
Cliff Hanham127 June 1940New Zealand Boxing Association2Hanham Vacated the title shortly after due to retirement.
Roy Stevens129 October 1945 – 15 February 1947New Zealand Boxing Association1
Doug Rollinson115 February 1947New Zealand Boxing Association0Rollinson Vacated the title shortly after due to retirement.
Tommy Downes121 March 1949 – 23 May 1949New Zealand Boxing Association1
Barney Clarke123 May 1949 – 18 August 1949New Zealand Boxing Association1
Roy Stevens218 August 1949New Zealand Boxing Association0Stevens Vacated the title shortly after due to retirement.
Russ Broughton17 October 1950New Zealand Boxing Association0Broughton Vacated the title.
Chub Keith19 July 1951New Zealand Boxing Association0Keith Vacated the title shortly after due to retirement.
Johnny Halafihi116 April 1956New Zealand Boxing Association0Halafihi Vacated the title shortly after due to retirement.
Charley Beaton113 July 1957New Zealand Boxing Association0Beaton Vacated the title shortly after due to retirement.
Johnny Nomura117 April 1961 – 4 August 1962New Zealand Boxing Association1
Earl Nikora14 August 1962 – 17 May 1965New Zealand Boxing Association2
Filo Manuoa117 May 1965 – 29 November 1965New Zealand Boxing Association1
Mike Leuii129 November 1965New Zealand Boxing Association0Leuii vacated the title as he was deported from New Zealand.
Eddie Wulf122 April 1971New Zealand Boxing Association0
Joe Jackson113 February 1974New Zealand Boxing Association0
Lance Revill111 June 1979 – 13 April 1980New Zealand Boxing Association1
Monty Betham113 April 1980New Zealand Boxing Association1Betham Vacated the title.
Alex Sua110 March 1982New Zealand Boxing Association1
Raeli Raeli124 April 1990New Zealand Boxing Council0
Allan McNamara130 May 1994New Zealand Boxing Association1
Timo Masua[1] 15 September 1999New Zealand Boxing Association0
Sean Sullivan19 August 2002New Zealand Boxing Association0
Sean Sullivan211 April 2003New Zealand National Boxing Federation0Sullivan held both titles.
Robert Berridge128 March 2013 – 2 June 2017New Zealand Professional Boxing Association2Berridge was awarded the title due to lack of challenges.
NZPBA presented the title to Berridge after a non-title bout against Moses Ioelu.
The bout was scheduled for 4 x 3 minute rounds.
Berridge retired at the end of his title reign.
Sam Rapira[2] 112 September 2014 – 16 October 2014New Zealand National Boxing Federation1
Reece Papuni[3] 116 October 2014New Zealand National Boxing Federation0
Tyrone Warren125 November 2017New Zealand National Boxing Federation0
Ratu Dawai119 May 2018New Zealand Professional Boxing Commission0
Zane Hopman130 October 2020 – 4 January 2020Pro Box New Zealand0Hopman retired ending his title reign.
Michael Helg18 June 2024 – PresentNew Zealand Professional Boxing Commission0

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Boxing: Champion playing it quietly. NZ Herald. 2001-04-12.
  2. Web site: Boxer Reece Papuni shows he is the real deal. Stuff. 2014-10-18.
  3. Web site: Patient Sam Rapira claims New Zealand belt. Stuff. 2014-09-15.