Nelson Live is ringside to bring you the latest updates from tonight’s Fight 4 Victory event.
The stadium is filling up with anticipated supporters of the 20 local faces competing in tonight’s event.
Fifty corporate tables have sold alongside $35 general admission door sales.
Proceeds from the event will be given to the Victory Boxing Charitable Trust.
6.38pm:
Just as Murray Leaning announces the beginning of the night a technical hitch has put the stadium in darkness caused by a fault in the building’s main breaker.
6:48pm:
Murray Leaning and Mike King are tonights master of ceremonies.
Scott Gibbons, chairperson for Victory Boxing thanks supporters of Victory Boxing and the Fight 4 Victory. He says Victory Boxing has grown from 20 to 200 kids.
Programme Director, Paul Hapton joins Scott in his thanks.
6.55pm:
Both blue and red corner teams are brought out to sing the national anthem.
7.00pm:
The Tava sisters sing the National Anthem along with the nearly full house of people.
7.08pm:
Three 2 minute rounds make up the first bout of victory boxing with Richard Malcolm in the red corner competing against blue corner opponent, councillor Tim Skinner.
7.25pm:
Richard Malcolm has taken out the first bout
“A big thank you to my wife and family. This has been a massive commitment for me and I am lucky to have them with me,” he says.
“The fella in the red corner deserved to win it. He was aggresive,” says judge Bernie Pope.
7.33pm:
Bout number two is about to begin with Emma “The Riddler” Riddell competing in blue against ref opponent Michelle ‘Molotov Mish” Byczkow.
7.45pm:
Michelle Byczkow has taken out the bout with Emma suffering a bleeding nose and cut below the nose.
7:52pm:
45 year old Karl ‘The Pitbull’ Griffith is about to compete against 46 year old Heath ‘Bam Bam’ Botica.
Karl is wobbly on his feet after the fight with Heath Botica winning the bout.
The red corner is currently leading the blue corner 3:0.
8:07pm:
The fourth bout is the battle of the restauranteurs with Kevin Hopgood competing against dining rival Garry Ford. Hopgood is in the Blue corner and Ford in the red. They are the oldest competitors of the night in the “Silver fox brigade” at 50 and 55.
8.21pm:
The bout was won by Kevin Hopgood, the first victory for the blue corner.
8.23pm:
In red, Tony ‘The Professor’ Snape is coming into the ring to the sound of AC/DC’s Hells Bells. His opponent James ‘Jimmy the Hammer’ Maxwell has chosen Chavelle Take on the Gunman.
James has taken on Fight 4 Victory in order to be a healthier dad for his kids.
8.40pm:
Tony Snape was the judges choice as he brings another point to the red team.
He says the fight was extremely competitive.
“I’ve been hit by a coupe big shots that have actually rocked me for the first time,” says Tony.
8.47pm:
Nelson Live’s own Andrew ‘Bad News’ Board is hungry and ready to go as he competes against Hayden Thompson.
9.01pm:
Hayden comes through in what Murray says may be a contender for “Bout of the night” to take out the winning position.
9.05pm:
Ivan Tava, in blue, is about to compete against James Hemi, in red for bout seven. Both competitors are strong sportsmen wanting to support the hard work of victory boxing.
9.20pm:
The winner of the bout was James Hemi.
A defeated Ivan Tava says the fight was very close.
“It was a great fight, great heart.”
9.30pm:
It’s another round for the girls with hairdressers Hazel Trethowen and Libby Brumwell competing in the eighth bout.
Libby, in red, uses her boxing dad as an inspiration.
9.41pm:
The pair received a standing ovation for their performance with Libby claiming the winners belt.
9:43pm:
Rhys ‘The Axe’ Horncastle is pitted against John Wike in the penultimate bout number 9.
Rhys brings home the winning belt in one of the most aggressive bouts of the competition.
Judge Bernie Pope says the calibre of this year’s fight is fantastic.
“It’s so much better than last year, they’re just so so good.”
10.08pm:
The final bout is about to begin with Steffan ‘The Sheriff’ James, blue, pitted against Justin ‘Machine Gun’ Carter, red.
Steffan James won the bout against a defeated looking Justin Carter.
Pat Leonard, ring supervisor, has announced the fight of the night as bout eight between Libby and Hazel.
He says he was surprised with all the results this year.
“This was the first fight in a number of years that has had seven split decisions,” Pat says.
An after party will be held at the Lone Star.
