Victory Boxing packed Nelson’s Rutherford Hotel with about 330 people last Friday for a sold-out ‘A Night with the Stars 3’, raising tens of thousands of dollars to support its community programmes.
Organiser Paul Hampton says the evening brought together a high-calibre line-up and a strong sense of community, with guests including MC and actor Stacey Morrison, world champion boxer Lani Daniels, rugby league great Ruben Wiki, actor Cohen Holloway, boxing champion Shane Cameron and singer Bailee Tava.
Paul says feedback from attendees on the night, and afterwards, points to a memorable event.
“Everyone had a really wonderful time. It was a really, really special night.”
He says Daniels was a standout, both on stage and around Nelson over the weekend.
“Lani was a bit of a highlight. Her story is just amazing, and she’s got the most incredible personality. She stayed in Nelson till Sunday and went out and about.
Everywhere she went she was so engaging and could get on with anyone, just so genuine. She’s achieved incredible things but is still so down to earth.”
With 330 people attending, the venue was at capacity.
Victory Boxing’s impact extends well beyond one-off events. Paul says hundreds of people pass through the gym each week, it is supported by about 40 volunteers and operates six days a week, with a strong community presence beyond scheduled sessions.
