OCEANIA BOXING CHAMPIONSHIPS – PART THREE
(1990 – 1999)
1990 Nuka’aLofa, Tonga
The 1990 Oceania event in Tonga in 1990 saw David Tua make his Oceania debut with spectacular
results. Auckland Middleweight Bob Gasio also won gold in Tonga.
Three Australian boxers, who went on to become big names in Australian boxing, resulted in New
Zealand returning home with silver medals. After winning three fights on the way to the final
stanza, featherweight Danny Masterton was defeated by Jamie Nicholson in the Oceania title
decider. In the Welterweight division Andrew Tua tasted defeat when beaten by Graham (Spike)
Cheney who went on to win an Olympic Silver Medal. Sililo Figota also surrendered to an
Australian challenge when beaten by Darren Obah who would later fight for a professional world
title.
Featherweight
Danny Masterson (Auckland)
Silver Medal
Defeated Jean Tangimetua (Cook Islands)
Defeated Richard Abel (Fiji)
Lost to Jamie Nicholson (Australia)
Light Welterweight Trevor Shailer (Manawatu)
Bronze Medal
Defeated Apal Malone (Vanuatu)
Lost to Shannon Taylor (Australia)
Welterweight
Andrew Tua (Manukau)
Defeated Moses Kellets (Papua New Guinea)
Lost to Graham Cheney (Australia)
Light Middleweight Sililo Figota (Auckland)
Silver Medal
Defeated Naea Asomua (Western Samoa)
Defeated Stephen Hill (Australia0
Lost to Darren Obah (Australia)
Middleweight
Bob Gasio (Auckland)
Gold Medal
Defeated Louis Bastellical (Tahiti)
Defeated Guy Belbin (Australia)
Defeated Walter Pupua (Tonga)
Heavyweight
David Tua (Manukau)
Gold Medal
Defeated Otosilo Haviti (Tahiti)
Defeated Lisimoni Kami (Papua New Guinea)
Defeated Patrick Mafileo (Tonga)
Manager
Coach
Assistant Coach
Trevor Hartley (Waikato)
Dr John McKay (Auckland)
Mike Treacy (Southland)
1992 Apia, Western Samoa
It was the Kiwi big men who returned home with gold medallions from the 1992 Oceania
Championships held in Western Samoa. David Tua won back to back Oceania Heavyweight
crowns – going just three rounds in his two bouts. Hutt Valley Super Heavyweight Tony Fiso was
taken to the wire in three 3-2 victories before winning the Gold Medal.
Bantamweight
Gary Jago (Auckland)
Lost L Donaldson (Australia) 5-0
Featherweight
Johnny Wallace (Southland)
Lost to Jamie Nicholson (Australia) 5-0
Lightweight
Kalolo Fiaui (Whakatane)
Lost to Henry Kunsi (Papua New Guinea)
Light Welterweight Trevor Shailer (Manawatu)
Silver Medal
Defeated T Falaniko (Western Samoa) 5-0
Defeated S Taulia (American Samoa) 5-0
Lost to Shannon Taylor (Australia) 3-2
Welterweight
Nuka Woods (Northland)
Bronze Medal
Defeated N Smith (Australia) 5-0
Defeated B Vitale (American Samoa) 5-0
Lost to M Tuifao (Western Samoa) RSC R2
Light Middleweight Sililo Figota (Auckland)
Lost to Maselino Masoe (Western Samoa) 3-2
Middleweight
Sam Leuii (Auckland)
Lost S Samuela (Western Samoa) KO R1
Light Heavyweight David Nanai (Auckland)
Lost A Ariu (Western Samoa) RSC R1
Heavyweight
David Tua (Manukau)
Gold Medal
Defeated D Cartwright (Australia) KO R1
Defeated E Leti (Western Samoa) RSC R2
Super Heavyweight Tony Fiso (Hutt Valley)
Gold Medal
Defeated S Pouha (Tonga) 3-2
Defeated R Collins (Australia) 3-2
Defeated S Seneturi (American Samoa) 3-2
Manager
Coach
Assistant Coach
Sindad Iva (Wellington)
Dr John McKay (Auckland)
Bill Miles (Hamilton)
1993 Apia, Western Samoa
Two Gold Medals from the seven man New Zealand team that boxed in the 1993 Oceania’s in
Western Samoa came from differing ends of the spectrum. Rising star Kalolo Fiaui, who went on
to win a bronze medal at the 1994 Commonwealth Games, annexed his first Oceania Gold Medal
when he sneaked past Australian Andrew Hill 3-2 in the Lightweight title decider.
Heavyweight Kipa Tasefa, who took over the mantle of the New Zealand number one in the 91
Kilo division from David Tua, cruised to victory with three 5 nil judges decisions
Bantamweight
Lightweight
Gary Jago (Auckland)
Lost to Koana Vanai (Papua New Guinea)
Kalolo Fiaui (CNI)
Gold Medal
Defeated Rahui Robati (Cook Island) RSC R1
Defeated Frisco Kivalu (Tonga) 4-1
Defeated Andrew Hill (Australia) 3-2
Welterweight
Nuka Woods (Northland)
Defeated Masua Ah Sam (Western Samoa) 4-1
Lost to Lyndon Hosking (Australia) 4-1
Light Middleweight Stephen Wood (Manawatu)
Bronze Medal
Defeated Uale Kauta (American Samoa) Disq R3
Lost to Bob Gasio (Western Samoa) 4-1
Middleweight
Sam Leuii (Auckland)
Bronze Medal
Defeated Harry Kalo (Vanuatu) 5-0
Lost to Mark Bagero (Australia) Walkover (popped shoulder)
Light Heavyweight Greg Bell (Canterbury)
Bronze Medal
Defeated Filipo Vaka (Tonga) 5-0
Defeated Gary Large (Australia) 3-2
Lost to Justin Crawford (Australia) RSC R1
Heavyweight
Kipa Tasefa (Auckland)
Gold Medal
Defeated Sione Tolotau (Tonga) 5-0
Defeated Tulesa Filipo (American Samoa) 5-0
Defeated Robert Stafford (Australia) 5-0
Manager
Coach
Brian Tobin (Wairarapa)
Sinbad Iva (Wellington)
1994 Port Vila, Vanuatu
Port Vila in Vanuatu saw a red hot Australian team, with the majority of the New Zealand boxers
dropping decision to their Australian opponents. However one Kiwi star that shone bright was
Manawatu Light Welterweight Trevor Shailer, who would go on to join Kalolo Fiaui in winning a
Bronze Medal at the 1994 Commonwealth Games. Shailer distinguished himself by shutting out
top Aussie Light Welterweights Lee Trautsch and Julian Holland five zip in the semi-final and
final respectively.
Middleweight Sam Leuii stepped up to the plate in the Middleweight division, also cruising to the
Gold Medal with three unanimous decisions. One Kiwi pugilist that had no luck with the draw was
Flyweight Danny Hodgson, who drew future world professional champion Hussein Hussein in his
first bout, suffering a stoppage in round two.
Flyweight
Bantamweight
Featherweight
Lightweight
Light Welterweight
Danny Hodgson (Manawatu)
Lost to Hussein Hussein (Australia) RSC R2
Gary Jago (Auckland)
Lost to Todd Makelin (Australia) RSCH R2
Danny Masterton (Auckland)
Lost to Francis Passingan (Papua New Guinea) 5-0
Kalolo Fiaui (CNI)
Bronze Medal
Defeated Samson Sam (Vanuata) KO R1
Lost to Traven Hooper (Australia) 5-0
Trevor Shailer (Manawatu)
Gold Medal
Defeated Steve Levi (Papua New Guinea) 5-0
Defeated Lee Trautsch (Australia) 5-0
Defeated Julian Holland (Australia) 5-0
Welterweight
Colin Hunia (CNI)
Bronze Medal
Defeated Francis Partch (Western Samoa) 5-0
Defeated David Burchell (Australia) 5-0
Lost to Richard Rowles (Australia) 5-0
Light Middleweight Steven Wood (Manawatu)
Silver Medal
Defeated Shem Nako (Vanuatu) 5-0
Defeated Luke Wailomania (Fiji) RSC R1
Lost to Bob Gasio (Western Samoa) 4-1
Middleweight
Tony De Vorms (CNI)
Lost to Armin Diehl (Australia) RSC R2
Middleweight
Sam Leuii (Auckland)
Gold Medal
Defeated Amosa Zink (Western Samoa) 5-0
Defeated Armin Diehl (Australia) 5-0
Defeated David Letiza (Australia) 5-0
Light Heavyweight Greg Bell (Canterbury)
Bronze Medal
Lost to Gary Large (Canterbury)
Heavyweight
Mark Wilson (Manawatu)
Silver Medal
Defeated Joe Saimei (Solomon Islands) 5-0
Lost to Daniel Rowsell (Australia) 5-0
Super Heavyweight Karl Meehan (Manukau)
Bronze Medal
Lost to Mark Burgess (Australia) 5-0
Manager
Coach
Coach
Tom O’Connor (Southland)
Sinbad Iva (Wellington)
Dr John McKay (Auckland)
1995 Nuku’alofa, Tonga
Heavyweight Commonwealth Games Bronze Medallist Garth da Silva, won the first of his five
successive Oceania titles at the 1995 Oceania Championships held in Tonga. Standing in Garth’s
way for the Gold Medal, was Angus Shelford who da Silva eliminated in the semi-finals earning
Shelford a Bronze Medal. Garth made short work of the final knocking out Oscar Mika from
Western Samoa in the opening round.
Three other Kiwi boxers made the title deciders in Nuku’alofa. Lightweight Kalolo Fiaui was
defeated by long time rival Henry Kunsi from Papua New Guinea, with Karlo Marsden losing by
way of a walkover to Richard Rowles in the Welterweight division courtesy of a broken hand in
the semi-finals. Auckland Super Heavyweight Fai’i Falamoe, lost to home town hero Paea
Wolfgram, who would go on to win a Silver Medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. The New
Zealand domiciled boxer was beaten on points by future World professional Heavyweight
champion Vladimir Klitschko in the Olympic title decider. Coincidently 2005 Kiwi Oceania
Coach Chris Kenny was in Wolfgram’s corner in Atlanta.
Light Flyweight
Noelo Lopez (Canterbury)
Defeated Mohammed Hussein (Fiji) 5-0
Lost to Ashley James (Australia) Disq
Flyweight
Danny Hodgson (Manawatu)
Bronze Medal
Lost to John Sam (Papua New Guinea) 5-0
Featherweight
Andrew McDonald (Timaru)
Lost to Lynch Ipera (Papua New Guinea) 5-0
Featherweight
Jojo Tipace (Auckland)
Lost to Robert Peden (Australia) RSC R1
Lightweight
Kalolo Fiaui (CNI)
Silver Medal
Defeated Apinata Suisala (American Samoa) RSC R1
Defeated Mathew Ben (Papua New Guinea) RSC R1
Lost to Henry Kunsi (Papua New Guinea) 5-0
Light Welterweight Johnny Gwynne (Waikato)
Bronze Medal
Defeated Saaea Seiuli (Western Samoa) RSC R1
Lost to Rico Chong Nee (Western Samoa) 3-2
Welterweight
Karlo Marsden (Taranaki)
Silver Medal
Defeated Soakai Laumoli (Tonga) Disq
Defeated Tobin Rowe (Papua New Guinea) 5-0
Lost to Richard Rowles (Australia) walkover – broken hand
Light Middleweight Tony De Vorms (Tokoroa)
Lost to Shane Heaps (Tonga)
Light Middleweight Stephen Wood (Wellington)
Bronze Medal
Defeated Peter Rolph (Australia)
Lost to Shane Heaps (Tonga)
Heavyweight
Angus Shelford (Auckland)
Bronze Medal
Defeated Tene Tu’avao (Tonga) 5-0
Defeated Sione Feimoefiafi (Tonga) 5-0
Lost to Garth da Silva (New Zealand) 5-0
Heavyweight
Garth da Silva (Auckland)
Gold Medal
Defeated Darren Guelfi (Australia) KO R3
Defeated Angus Shelford (New Zealand) 5-0
Defeated Oscar Mika (Western Samoa) KO R1
Super Heavyweight Fai’i Falamoe (Auckland)
Silver Medal
Defeated Vijay Singh (Fiji) RSC R1
Lost to Paea Wolfgram (Tonga) KO R1
Manager
Coach
Coach
Gordon Dixon (Wellington)
Chris Kenny (Wellington)
Grant Scaife (Hutt Valley)
1996 Sydney, Australia
The Sydney Oceania’s in 1996, were a major focus for the New Zealand team with the event
becoming the Olympic qualifying tournament for the first time. In a move to curb the Olympic
boxing numbers, AIBA decreed that just the winner from each division at the Oceania tournament
would be eligible to box at the Olympic Games.
Garth da Silva earned a 1996 Olympic berth winning three bouts on the way to the Gold Medal and
Olympic qualification. A walkover victory over Mark May from Australia, cemented Garth’s
Olympic trip, where he became just the fourth Kiwi boxer to progress past the first round at the
Olympics.
New Zealand may of have had two Olympic representatives at the 1996 Olympic Games, if Super
Heavyweight Fai’i Falamoe hadn’t damaged his shoulder in his semi-final win over Western
Samoan Peter Williams. Paea Wolfgram who was the Kiwi boxer’s opponent in the final went on
to win the Silver Medal at Atlanta.
New Zealand
Light Flyweight
Noelo Lopez (Canterbury)
Lost to Ashley James (Australia) RSC R3
Bantamweight
Danny Hodgson (Manawatu)
Bronze Medal
Defeated Pat Peni (Western Samoa) 3-2
Defeated James Ratutokorua (Fiji) 3-2
Lost John Sam (Papua New Guinea) 5-0
Featherweight
Jojo Tipace (Auckland)
Bronze Medal
Defeated Harry Kalanuma (Solomon Islands) 5-0
Lost Nedal Hussein (Australia) 5-0
Lightweight
Kalolo Fiaui (CNI)
Lost to John Simpson (Australia) 5-0
Light Welterweight Johnny Gwynne (Waikato)
Bronze Medal
Defeated Michael Peterson (American Samoa) Disq
Lost to Bryce Neal (New Zealand)
Welterweight
Andrew Tua (Auckland)
No Medal Awarded
Defeated Shane Heaps (Tonga) 3-2
Defeated Steven Mathews (Papua New Guinea) KO R1
Defeated David Burchell (Australia) 5-0
Lost to Lyndon Hosking (Australia) Disq R3
Light Middleweight Morven Katene (Southland)
Lost to Llewellyn Cleaver (Australia) 5-0
Middleweight
Stephen Wood (Wellington)
Bronze Medal
Defeated David Wolfgram (Tonga) 5-0
Lost to Robert Marinovic (Australia) 5-0
Light Heavyweight Regan Foley (Auckland)
Lost to Gary Large (Australia) 5-0
Heavyweight
Garth da Silva (Manukau)
Gold Medal
(Qualified for 1996 Olympic Games)
Defeated Yogeshwar Singh (Fiji) RSC R2
Defeated Finau Lavea (New Zealand) 5-0
Defeated Mark May (Australia) walkover
Super Heavyweight Fai’i Falamoe (Manukau)
Silver Medal
Defeated Peter Williams (Western Samoa) 5-0
Lost to Paea Wolfgram (Tonga) walkover – shoulder injury
Manager
Coach
Coach
Ian Law (Auckland)
Chris Kenny (Wellington)
Grant Scaife (Wellington)
1997 Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
A six man New Zealand team won two Gold Medals at Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea, but
were denied a further Gold Medal, when OBA President Arthur Tunstall enforced the AIBA rule
where gold medals are not awarded for unopposed titles. The decision cost New Zealand the
trophy for the most successful team.
Regan Foley boxing in the Light Heavyweight class, won the Kiwi’s first Gold Medal beating
Australia’s Justin Crawford in a thriller with Foley awarded a 3-2 split decision. Garth da Silva
collected his third Oceania title, stopping Simon Paterson from Australia in round three on finals
night.
Bantamweight
Danny Hodgson (Manawatu)
Bronze Medal
Defeated Tarluai Narling (Vanuatu) 5-0
Lost to Howard Gereo (Papua New Guinea) 5-0
Featherweight
Jojo Tipace (Auckland)
Silver Medal
Defeated Alphonse Kalai (Papua New Guinea) RSC R3
Lost to Lynch Ipera (Papua New Guinea) RSC R3
Middleweight Stephen Wood (Auckland)
Silver Medal
Defeated Ben Kihan (Papua New Guinea) 4-1
Defeated Daniel Green (Australia) 3-2
Lost to Robert Marinovic (Australia) 3-2
Light Heavyweight Regan Foley (Auckland)
Gold Medal
Defeated John McDermott (Australia) Disq
Defeated Justin Crawford (Australia) 3-2
Heavyweight
Garth da Silva (Auckland)
Gold Medal
Defeated Martin Marsh (Papua New Guinea) RSC R5
Defeated Simon Paterson (Australia) RSC R3
Super Heavyweight Fai’i Falamoe (Auckland)
Unopposed Title
(Oceania President Arthur Tunstall enforced AIBA rule where gold medals are not awarded for
unopposed titles – the decision also cost New Zealand the trophy for the most successful team)
Manager
Coach
Reece Facoory (Auckland)
Dr John McKay (Auckland)
1998 Upper Hutt, New Zealand
Tournament hosts New Zealand entered two teams in the 1998 Oceania Championships held in
Upper Hutt. This was just the third occasion that New Zealand had hosted the Oceania Boxing
Championships.
It was an extremely busy finals night for the New Zealand support team with nine Kiwi boxers
fighting in the title deciders. The final New Zealand tally was three Gold and six Silver medals.
The first New Zealand title came early in the last night of competition, with Bantamweight Noah
Lopez winning the gold medallion on a 3-2 split from L Tuifao from Western Samoa.
The large Kiwi audience then had to wait to the last two contests to celebrate further New Zealand
success. Garth da Silva added a further Gold Medal to his collection easily beating Australian Gary
Large, with Fai’i Falamoe knocking out the Tongan representative in the opening round of the
Super Heavyweight division.
New Zealand A
Light Flyweight
Noelo Lopez (Canterbury)
Silver Medal
Defeated R Fernando (Australia) RSC R2
Lost to S Lockett (Australia) RSC R3
Bantamweight
Noah Lopez (Canterbury)
Gold Medal
Defeated R Lare (Papua New Guinea) 5-0
Defeated L Tuifao (Western Samoa) 3-2
Featherweight
Jojo Tipace (Auckland)
Lost James Swan (Australia)
Lightweight
Ramil Abubot (Auckland)
Lost Mathew Pauley (Australia)
Light Welterweight Robert Walker (CNI)
Silver Medal
Defeated D Tserama (Papua New Guinea) Ko R1
Defeated David Marsters (Cook Islands) 4-1
Lost to Casey Johns (Australia) 3-2
Welterweight
Daniel Codling (Auckland)
Silver Medal
Defeated J Bolemark (Papua New Guinea) 5-0
Defeated A Pua (Western Samoa) 4-1)
Defeated Ben Eckerman (Australia) 5-0
Lost to Lyndon Hosking (Australia) RSC R3
Light Middleweight Myles Dyne (Wellington)
Silver Medal
Defeated A Gagiraty (Fiji) KO R2
Defeated J Allen (Australia) 3-2
Lost to Richard Rowles (Australia) KO R4
Middleweight
Darryl Litchwark (Waikato)
Silver Medal
Defeated Scott Taualui (Tonga) 5-0
Defeated Peter Maneisi (Australia) 3-2
Lost to S Naea (Western Samoa) 3-2
Light Heavyweight Craig McDougall (Wellington)
Bronze Medal
Defeated John Afua (Papua New Guinea) KO R3
Lost to Ken Dalton (Australia) 5-0
Heavyweight
Garth da Silva (Auckland)
Gold Medal
Defeated Darren Guelfi (Australia) 5-0
Defeated Angus Shelford (New Zealand) 3-2
Defeated Gary Large (Australia) 5-0
Super Heavyweight Fai’i Falamoe (Auckland)
Gold Medal
Defeated Paula Kolikata (Fiji) KO R2
Defeated V Lavaka (Tonga) KO R1
New Zealand B
Featherweight
Danny Hodgson (Manawatu)
Bronze Medal
Lost to James Swan (Australia)
Lightweight
Kalolo Fiaui (CNI)
Silver Medal
Defeated J Tau’aika (Tonga) 5-0
Defeated A Kalai (Papua New Guinea) RSC R4
Lost to Mathew Pauley (Australia) 3-2
Light Welterweight
David Jenkins (CNI)
Bronze Medal
Defeated A Pula (Western Samoa) 5-0
Lost to Casey Johns (Australia) 4-1
Welterweight
Roy Davidson (Wellington)
Lost to R Taloshea (American Samoa) 5-0
Light Middleweight Javed Arani (Auckland)
Lost to S Talosaga (American Samoa) 3-2
Middleweight
Stephen Wood (Wellington)
Lost to Francis Partch (Western Samoa) 5-0
Light Heavyweight Stephen McIver (Canterbury)
Bronze Medal
Defeated T Tuiaki (Tonga) 5-0
Lost to Justin Crawford (Australia) RSC R4
Heavyweight
Angus Shelford (Auckland)
Bronze Medal
Defeated K Maasi (Tonga) KO R1
Lost to Garth da Silva (New Zealand) 3-2
Manager
Coach
Coach
Coach
Reece Facoory (Auckland)
Dr John McKay (Auckland)
Phillip Shatford (Canterbury)
Fraser Boyd (CNI)
1999 Papeete, Tahiti
(Introduction of computer scoring at the Oceania Championships)
Computer scoring made its Oceania Championships debut at the 1999 Oceania contests in Tahiti.
New Zealand’s Gold Medal tally was three. Whakatane Lightweight Kalolo Fiaui won his second
Oceania crown when he defeated an Australian opponent on points. In an all Kiwi Heavyweight
final Garth da Silva beat Angus Shelford 17-4, with Super Heavyweight Fai’i Falmoe getting past
Justin Whitehead from Australia 8-5.
Featherweight
Lightweight
Light Welterweight
Welterweight
Welterweight
Jojo Tipace (Auckland)
Silver Medal
Defeated ?? (American Samoa) RSC R4
Lost to Lynch Ipera (Papua New Guinea) Points
Kalolo Fiaui (CNI)
Gold Medal
Defeated I Pule (Western Samoa) RSC R4
Defeated P Meakes (Australia) Points
Robert Walker (CNI)
Silver Medal
Defeated D Ross (Australia) RSC R2
Defeated Albert Temaititahio (Tahiti) 27-14
Lost to Henry Collins (Australia) Points
Emmett Gradwell (Auckland)
Silver Medal
Defeated K Ragu (Papua New Guinea) Points
Defeated I Papu (Tahiti) Points
Lost to Jamie Pitman (Australia) Points
Daniel Codling (Auckland)
Bronze Medal
Defeated B Sylvester (Australia) Points
Lost to Jamie Pitman (Australia) 15-13
Light Middleweight Myles Dyne (Wellington)
Lost to D Marks (Australia) Points
Light Middleweight Kahukura Bentson (Auckland)
Lost to Chris Hamilton (Australia) Points
Middleweight
Stephen McIver (Canterbury)
Bronze Medal
Defeated E Fevaleaki (Western Samoa) Points
Lost to I Roberts (American Samoa) 6-2
Light Heavyweight Stephen Wood (Wellington)
Bronze Medal
Defeated M Kiea (Tonga) Points
Lost to Jason De Lisle (Australia) 19-14
Heavyweight
Angus Shelford (Auckland)
Silver Medal
Defeated Tovi Coddy (Tahiti) Points
Defeated Sinela Fifita (Tonga) RSC R1
Lost to Garth da Silva (New Zealand) 17-4
Heavyweight
Garth da Silva (Canterbury)
Gold Medal
Defeated J Vaughan (Australia) RSC R4
Defeated S Paterson (Australia) RSC R4
Defeated Angus Shelford (New Zealand) 17-4
Super Heavyweight Fai’i Falamoe (Auckland)
Gold Medal
Defeated M Tahiata (Tahiti) Points
Defeated Justin Whitehead (Australia) 8-5
Manager
Coach
Coach
Ian Law (Auckland)
Dr John McKay (Auckland)
Barry White (Canterbury)