Professional boxing in New Zealand refers to the sport of boxing held in New Zealand at a professional level.
Governing body 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. 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.
History 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.
Tournaments Super Eight Boxing Tournament
Current champions
Men
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 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 Ricaia Warren 15 November 2025 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 — Sonny Morini 14 November 2025 Vacant — Super Lightweight Vacant — Vacant — Shiva Mishra 15 February 2020 Lightweight Nort Beauchamp 4 May 2019 Vacant — Vacant —
Female 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 6 May 2006 Vacant — Vacant — Welterweight Daniella Smith 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 Jadene Treadaway 21 March 2026 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 —
Pacific Titles 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.
Cruiserweight Pacific title Name Beginning of Reign Title Opponent Patrick Ferguson 18 August 2018 Pro Box Pacific Panuve Helu
Light Heavyweight Pacific title Name Beginning of Reign Title Opponent Savenaca Naliva 29 February 2020 Pro Box Pacific John Korake
Super Middleweight Pacific title Name Beginning of Reign Title Opponent Tyson Turner 9 November 2019 Pro Box Pacific Zac Cotten
Middleweight Pacific title Name Beginning of Reign Title Opponent Gunnar Jackson 24 November 2018 Pro Box Pacific Blake Bell
Super Welterweight Pacific title Name Beginning of Reign Title Opponent Bowyn Morgan 4 May 2018 Pro Box Pacific Andres Delfin Rodriguez
Super Lightweight Pacific title 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
Super Featherweight Pacific title Name Beginning of Reign Title Opponent Baolin Kang 11 September 2019 Pro Box Pacific Cain Brunton
Provincial titles 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.
Heavyweight title
Heavyweight Central title 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
Heavyweight Southern title Name Beginning of Reign Title Opponent Defence Bill Bartlett 13 December 1912 Canterbury title William O'Bien 1
Cruiserweight title
Cruiserweight Southern title 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
Super Middleweight title
Super Middleweight Southern title Name Beginning of Reign Title Opponent Joshua Hatherley 24 November 2018 Pro Box NZ South Island Michael Pascoe
Middleweight title
Middleweight Northern title 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
Middleweight Central title Name Beginning of Reign Title Opponent Gunnar Jackson 24 November 2018 NZPBA Central Blake Bell
Middleweight Southern title 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
Lightweight title
Lightweight Northern title 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
Boxing and Wrestling Act 1981
See also List of New Zealand world boxing champions List of New Zealand female boxing champions List of New Zealand heavyweight boxing champions List of New Zealand cruiserweight boxing champions List of New Zealand light heavyweight boxing champions List of New Zealand super middleweight boxing champions List of New Zealand middleweight boxing champions List of New Zealand super welterweight boxing champions List of New Zealand welterweight boxing champions List of New Zealand super lightweight boxing champions List of New Zealand lightweight boxing champions List of New Zealand super featherweight boxing champions List of New Zealand featherweight boxing champions List of New Zealand bantamweight boxing champions List of Australian female boxing champions List of Australian heavyweight boxing champions List of Australian cruiserweight boxing champions List of Australian light heavyweight boxing champions List of Australian super middleweight boxing champions List of Australian middleweight boxing champions List of Australian super welterweight boxing champions List of Australian welterweight boxing champions List of Australian super lightweight boxing champions List of Australian lightweight boxing champions List of Australian super featherweight boxing champions List of Australian featherweight boxing champions List of Australian bantamweight boxing champions Boxing in Australia
References
External links NZPBA Official Website PBCNZ Official Website