In the co-main event to the Joseph Parker-Andy Ruiz fight in Auckland, WBO and IBF #2 welterweight contender Jeff Horn scored a solid, if not spectacular, win over South Africa?s Ali Funeka. Funeka was credited with a knockdown in round two at the bell, although the replay shows that the knockdown was the result of a clash of heads. In round four another clash of heads led to a cut over the left eye of Funeka and at two minutes of round five Horn dropped Funeka wit a hard overhand right and quick combination upstairs. Funeka rose but barely survived the round after another shot sent him reeling into the ropes at the end of the round. In round six a hard overhand right dropped Funeka and although he got up his legs were clearly not under him and referee Marlon Wright wisely waved off the fight at 0:30 of round six. Horn also was cut over his right eye, an injury that may impact his standing for a possible showdown with Manny Pacquiao early next year.
In an eagerly anticipated international fight in the super bantamweight division, undefeated Isaac Dogboe of Ghana scored a dominant seventh round TKO over crafty Argentine Julian Aristule. Aristule seemed to give Dogboe some trouble in the early rounds but Dogboe kept up an explosive pace and by round seven Aristule was unable to cope with the relentless attack of the prospect from Ghana. Dogboe scored two knockdowns in the seventh round, prompting Aristule?s corner to wave the white towel. With the win Dogboe improves to 16-0 while Aristule slips to 32-7. Dogboe wins the WBO International super bantamweight title as well as the WBO Latino super bantamweight belt with the win.
In the fourth fight of the night local female boxer Shannon O?Connell scored an impressive unanimous decision over undefeated Argentine boxer Laura Griffa. There were no knockdowns but plenty of action in the eight round fight. Scores were 79-73, 78-74, and 77-75 for O?Connell who improves to 15-4-1, 7 KOs. Griffa slips to 13-1, 1 KO. Referee was John Conway.
In the third fight of the night undefeated heavyweight Junior Fa scored the biggest win of his professional career after he dominated Argentina?s Pablo Magrini en route to scoring a third round TKO. Magrini was unable to cope with Fa?s size and reach advantage. In the third round a pair of hard left hands to the body sent Magrini to the canvas where his corner mercifully threw in the towel midway through referee Marlon Wright?s count. Time was 0:55 of the third. With the win Fa improves to 9-0, 6 KOs while Magrini falls to 17-2-1, 13 KOs.
In the second fight of the night 22-year old John Parker, younger brother of Joseph, struggled at times but ultimately won a unanimous decision over debuting Ash McConville. McConville struggled with Parker?s speed and jab, but nonetheless landed some hard shots in the second and third round. All three judges scored the fight 40-36 for Parker, who improves to 2-0, 0 KOs.
In the opening bout of the night popular local heavyweight Brown Buttabean, aka David Letele scored a 4th round TKO in a wild fight against Che Barlow. Time was 2:12 of the final round. Brown Buttabean, who took up boxing to lose weight and had shed over two hundred pounds, announced his retirement after the fight. Barlow drops to 0-2 while Brown Buttabean finishes his career at 15-3, 7 KOs.
