Born and bred local lad Sam Hedges will step out of his comfort zone and take to the ring as the main card in Saturday’s Fight for Rangatahi at the Motueka Recreation Centre.
He will meet Te Kaha-born Sam Cassidy for three two-minute rounds in front of a crowd of roughly 800.
With 16 fights on the cards, the five-hour event will mark the return of large-scale boxing for the region.
Sam says fighting in front of his hometown makes his first fight in front of a crowd special, but to be named as the main fight is an honour.
The 34-year-old is a seasoned league player, representing both Tasman and the West Coast at premier level before hanging up his league jersey in 2021.
It was then that he joined Motueka’s Ahikaa Boxing.
“Mental health has been the biggest motivator to get into boxing and I hope, being someone who battles mental health daily, that by getting in the ring it may inspire someone who’s struggling to come forward and reach out for support,” Sam says.
He says the home crowd has given him extra motivation ahead of Saturday’s bout.
“I’ve been training twice most days, so I’ve really dedicated a lot and sacrificed a lot. Losing’s not really come into the equation.”
Co-organiser Randall Dixon says the support for the event has been “unreal”.
They are expecting a sell-out crowd, with clubs from Christchurch and Auckland bringing in boxers for the event.
Episode 12 - The threat of urban sprawl and bringing vibrancy back to the city. — The Nelson Pod
“I’ve done a few of these events over the last 20 years, but this is by far the best one so far in terms of support and ticket sales. I’m looking forward to it.”
Sam says he’s not feeling nervous, more confident.
“I trust my ability in the ring, I’ve worked hard to get to where I am. I’m going out there to fight a good fight.”
Tickets can be purchased from Eventbrite.
