| Professional boxing in New Zealand | |
| Union: | Boxing NZ Pro Box NZ |
| Sport: | Boxing |
Professional boxing in New Zealand refers to the sport of boxing held in New Zealand at a professional level.
New Zealand National Boxing Federation (NZNBF) and New Zealand Professional Boxing Association (NZPBA) are the national sporting commissioning bodies that run professional boxing in New Zealand. Other boxing bodies in New Zealand have been inactive including Boxing NZ Inc and New Zealand Boxing Council (NZBC). Boxing NZ Inc currently only commission amateur boxing events and NZBC has been inactive since 2007. The New Zealand Boxing Association (NZBA) was the first boxing commission in New Zealand, which began before 1900. In 1903, the NZBA was granted a special dispensation by the ruling world amateur body to conduct professional boxing. Thus was born the amateur undercard with pro bouts as the main card.[1] In 2016, a New Boxing commission started called the Professional Boxing Commission New Zealand (PBCNZ). The PBCNZ commissioned their first show on Joseph Parker vs. Andy Ruiz. A small commissioning body called Pro-Box NZ (established in 2012), is semi active in New Zealand, however only does an average of three events per year. Most of Pro-Box NZ commissioned events are in the Bay of Plenty and Waikato area. In 2019, NZPBA was no longer considered the main professional boxing body as Pro Box NZ did more shows nationwide the NZPBA. PBCNZ was the main body for Auckland.[2]
In 1903 Parliament formed and passed the Boxing and Wrestling Act to cover the facets and the issuing of a Police boxing permit. The act and regulations have been slightly amended over the years. The latest amendment was 1984, because only boxing and wrestling is named in the current act and regulations, is why all the other combat sports do not have to apply for Police permits or restricted by anything else such that is required for current day boxers.[3]
| Weight class: | NZPBA Champion: | NZPBA Reign began: | PBCNZ Champion: | PBCNZ Reign began: | Pro Box NZ Champion: | Pro Box NZ Reign began: | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heavyweight | Junior Fa | 18 March 2017 | Richard Tutaki | 28 October 2023 | Kiki Toa Leutele | 12 May 2023 | |
| Cruiserweight | Asher Derbyshire[4] | 29 April 2016 | Jerome Pampellone | 21 July 2022 | John Parker | 27 April 2024 | |
| Light Heavyweight | Vacant | — | Michael Helg | 8 June 2024 | Zane Hopman | 30 October 2020 | |
| Super Middleweight | Jonathan Taylor | 12 November 2016 | Vacant | — | Francis Waitai | 10 October 2020 | |
| Middleweight | Vacant | — | Marcus Heywood | 20 August 2022 | Andrei Mikhailovich | 3 August 2019 | |
| Super Welterweight | Bowyn Morgan | 22 June 2018 | Dylan Archer | 25 July 2024 | Bowyn Morgan | 15 December 2018 | |
| Welterweight | Vacant | — | Vacant | — | Vacant | — | |
| Super Lightweight | Vacant | — | Vacant | — | Shiva Mishra | 15 February 2020 | |
| Lightweight | Nort Beauchamp | 4 May 2019 | Vacant | — | Vacant | — |
| Weight class: | NZPBA Champion: | NZPBA Reign began: | PBCNZ Champion: | PBCNZ Reign began: | Pro Box NZ Champion: | Pro Box NZ Reign began: | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heavyweight | Sarah Long | 13 October 2018 | Vacant | — | Sequita Hemingway | 19 August 2023 | |
| Cruiserweight | N/A | — | Tinta Smith | 11 May 2024 | N/A | — | |
| Light Heavyweight | Lani Daniels | 18 November 2017 | Geovana Peres | 13 October 2017 | Lani Daniels | 24 June 2022 | |
| Super Middleweight | Vacant | — | Vacant | — | Lani Daniels | 22 September 2018 | |
| Super Welterweight | Daniella Smith[5] | 6 May 2006 | Vacant | — | Vacant | — | |
| Welterweight | Daniella Smith[6] | 13 December 2008 | Vacant | — | Macca Jean | 7 October 2023 | |
| Super Lightweight | Vacant | — | Mea Motu | 3 July 2021 | Vacant | — | |
| Lightweight | Mea Motu | 26 March 2021 | Quinita Hati | 19 May 2018 | Vacant | — | |
| Super Featherweight | Rebecca Jennings | 10 September 2016 | Mea Motu | 30 April 2022 | Vacant | — | |
| Featherweight | Vacant | — | Mea Motu | 12 February 2022 | Vacant | — | |
| Bantamweight | Christine Gillespie | 2 November 2024 | Vacant | — | Vacant | — |
In 2018, Pro Box NZ created a new title for the pacific region called the Pro Box Pacific title, with the first bout happening on 4 May 2018 with Bowyn Morgan taking on Andres Delfin Rodriguez. PBCNZ tried to replicate the idea, however the original bout scheduled on 19 May 2018, between Sam Rapira and Abhay Chand did not happen due to Abhay Chand pulling out. Sam Rapira ended up fighting Ratu Dawai instead for the PBCNZ National Titles.
| Name | Beginning of Reign | Title | Opponent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cairo George | 4 May 2019 | Pro Box Pacific | James Torres | |
| Shiva Mishra | 31 October 2020 | Pro Box Pacific | Tain Cropley |
In 2018, New Zealand Professional Boxing Association created three Provincial titles for New Zealand. The NZPBA Northern, NZPBA Central and NZPBA Southern title. The first title was competed on 6 October 2018, where Kiki Toa Leutele Knocked out Thomas Russell.
| Name | Beginning of Reign | Title | Opponent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harry Kaing | 6 December 1886 | Wanganui title | John Laurie | |
| Kiki Toa Leutele | 6 October 2018 | NZPBA Central | Thomas Russell |
| Name | Beginning of Reign | Title | Opponent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Izic Placid | 3 May 2019 | Pro Box NZ South Island | Ash Mcconville | |
| Kurt Winklemann | 24 November 2018 | Pro Box NZ Inter-Island title | Nigel Elliot |
| Name | Beginning of Reign | Title | Opponent | defences | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Laurie | 10 September 1886 | Auckland title | James Martin | 1 | |
| Barney Donovan | 22 September 1886 | Auckland title | John Laurie | 1 |
| Name | Beginning of Reign | Title | Opponent | Defences | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Laurie | 5 June 1886 | West Coast title | J J Breeze | 1 | |
| Fred Millar | 20 August 1887 | West Coast title | John Laurie | 1 | |
| John Laurie | 17 September 1887 | West Coast title | Fred Millar | 0 |
| Name | Beginning of Reign | Title | Opponent | defences | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Torpedo Billy Murphy | 14 July 1883 | Auckland title | Frank Burns | 2 | |
| Barney Donovan | 5 January 1885 | Auckland title | Torpedo Billy Murphy | 1 |
See main article: Boxing and Wrestling Act 1981.