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Former world champion Maselino Masoe, left, has teamed up with brother Chris for his boxing debut.
Chris Masoe, who will make his professional boxing debut in Taranaki in December, has persuaded promoter Sam Rapira to raise money for Alzheimer’s Taranaki during the fight night.
Fundraising auctions are a feature of the fight night events, which have become a huge attraction at TSB Stadium in recent years.
Rapira is known to have bought a pair of boxing gloves signed by heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and former heavyweight champion Kiwi Samoan Joseph Parker for the latest event.
The funds raised went to help Box Office Boxing in New Plymouth to help the youth.
Family comes first for the former All Black – and he wanted to show his appreciation for Alzheimer’s Taranaki.
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Masoe is proud to know that the money raised from the charity auction will stay in the region with Alzheimer’s Taranaki.
“I know so many people who have been affected in one way or another and I know that all the funds raised for Taranaki for Alzheimer’s disease will stay in Taranaki,” he said.
He said the Covid lockdown had made fundraising more difficult for many charities.
“It’s really great that Sam and his committee want to support Alzheimer’s Taranaki as well as youth – which is also very important, and I fully support it,” Masoe said.
Meanwhile, Masoe’s brother Maselino, who won the WBA middleweight title in 2004, has been working hard training the debutant ahead of the Crowded House Bar & Eatery Fight Before Christmas on December 2.
Masoe takes on Taranaki’s Steven Powell, who made his ring debut as a corporate boxer in 2015.
Rapira has lined up two former internationals – the other is former Kiwi Wairangi Koopu who will fight Rewi Panoho.
He said fight night at TSB had become the largest non-televised martial arts event in the country.
The general admission tickets went on sale last week, while three quarters of the ringside tables are already occupied.