• Bay boxer a chip off the old block

Bay boxer a chip off the old block

As a youngster growing up in Hawke's Bay Tiopira TeHuia Rarere never took much interest in the exploits of his world title-winning kickboxing father Jason Rarere.

"I was more into soccer," recalled the 16-year-old Lindisfarne College Year 12 student.

But TeHuia Rarere's focus changed two-and-a-half years ago. The third youngest of Rarere's seven children and youngest of four boys started to learn kickboxing from his father.

"Then we got into some boxing. I developed a passion for it," TeHuia Rarere said.

More than 600 rounds of training later TeHuia Rarere will make his debut when he takes on Palmerston North's Taitus O'Donnell in a 65kg youth light welterweight bout scheduled for three two-minute rounds at the Giants Boxing Academy's tournament in Hastings on Saturday.

Watching Putanga Gym's TeHuia Rarere train it's easy to gauge the similarities between him and the old man. He's tall, lean and mean and boasts plenty of power for his size.

"Tiopira can hold his own training. It's now time to see if he has the necessary grit and apple to achieve his long-term goals of South Pacific Games, Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games," Rarere explained.

His son won't be short of motivation for the fight which will be one of 21 on the card.

"I'm fighting for my good friend Keryn Patterson who has had some major battles since being diagnosed with cancer 11 years ago. Keryn is on the right side of the battle now but had a 14-hour operation during the middle of June last year," TeHuia Rarere explained.

TeHuia Rarere is eying a business career when he leaves school. His father, who is now 52 and a social worker, won six national middleweight titles during his 37-bout kick boxing career.

As a professional boxer Rarere had 26 fights and won five national middleweight titles and two Pan-Asian titles.

Hawke's Bay's national champion Shirahn Lee Esmail of the Ruahapia will take on Kapiti's Michael Reynolds in Saturday's feature bout. The 64kg class contest is scheduled for three three-minute rounds.

There will be plenty of interest in the progress of long-serving Hawke's Bay Tui rugby representative Gemma Woods when she meets Masterton's Chontelle Orr in an 82kg class fight scheduled for three two-minute rounds.