Reece “Lightning” Papuni is the new World Boxing Federation Oceania Light Heavyweight Champion after defeating fellow New Zealander Andrew Robinson on Saturday July 20 at Roy Stokes Community Hall in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Both fighters came to win and gave it their everything from start to finish, but, while it was an excellent encounter with big punches thrown either way, it was Papuni who seemed to have just a little bit more to offer.
After ten entertaining rounds that clearly thrilled the spectators in attendance, judges Kevin Byrne, Ken Clearwater and Zante McDonald scored it unanimously in favour of Papuni: 99-93, 98-92 and 99-95.
To many it looked like a closer fight than the scores indicate, but the victory and the WBF championship belt was awarded to the right man.
With the victory Reece Papuni captured his short professional careers first title and improved his record to 4-0 (1), while Andrew Robinson lost for the first time and drops to 3-1 (2).
Promoters of the show was JHJ Promotions and Vanessa Henry.
