Tauranga boxing champion Motekiai Huni is preparing for a big future

Motekiai was the only one representing New Zealand, yet he still managed to win the 54kg division and was given the fight of the tournament.

Motekiai commutes from Te Puna to Rotorua for training Rotovegas Boxing Club and is trained by his father. His routine consists of three workouts a day, starting at 4:30 a.m., and he trains every day except Sunday, which is his rest day.

“I usually do my morning session for an hour and a half. Mornings are easy, he said.

“We usually do cardio in the afternoon.”

Motekiai said endurance was the most important aspect of fitness when it came to boxing; that’s why cardio was important as he plans to do three-minute rounds next year.

He said his strength in the sport comes from his head movements and his ability to predict when a punch is coming his way.

He said it was all about reaction time and being ready and focused.

Motekiai has only had one serious injury in his boxing career: a broken wrist.

“We went to Tonga for a tournament and he hit a punching bag that had been outside for a while and all the padding was soaked to the bottom and hardened like concrete and he went to hit it and he broke his wrist,” he said . mother Naiomi Huni of Pirirakau hapū, Ngāti Ranginui iwi, said.

She said he didn’t realize it was a fracture and thought it might just be a bruise until about four months later. He was in pain, but he kept going and thought nothing of it.

Motekiai has dedicated his future to becoming a professional boxer, leaving school at the age of 16 due to his busy schedule competing in New Zealand and abroad.

His parents are very proud of his efforts and determination in training and maintaining the lifestyle of a professional athlete.

Motekiai aspires to be like Ukrainian professional boxer Vasiliy Lomachenko, who as an amateur was a two-time world champion and two-time gold medalist at the Olympic Games.

Motekiai has won four New Zealand national titles, four North Island Gold Glovesone New Zealand National Gold Glove, five Australian Gold Gloves and the Germany Under 17 Open.

“With the help of whānau and friends and local businesses we were able to get him to Germany,” Naiomi said.

Before Motekiai left for Germany, he was busy winning other international competitions.

“Two weeks before Germany, on August 18, he had traveled to Brisbane, Australia to win his fifth Gold Gloves.

“Then he was home for two weeks and then he left for Germany and came home on September 29.”

On October 1, Motekiai headed to Christchurch for the New Zealand national competitions to take his fourth national title.

“He has a busy schedule ahead of him in his journey to become the number one boxer,” Naiomi said.

Motekiai is a fourth-generation boxer in his family. His great-grandfather coached for Tonga and his great-uncle, father, cousins ​​and siblings all found success in boxing.

“His cousin is ranked the 10th heavyweight champion in the world Ring magazine.

“His brother turned pro two years ago. And his sister went to… Commonwealth Games Representing Tonga for boxing,” Naiomi said.

There is constant boxing on TV in their household. The whole family is immersed in the sport.

“When he was fighting in Christchurch, everyone was watching it. His little sister screamed because she thought he could hear.”

She said he has a lot of support behind him and cheering him on as he makes his journey to turning pro.

“There is a lot of discipline in boxing. He has to go on a diet and that is difficult because the others all eat lasagna and stuff and he has to have fish or chicken. But he loves it.”

Boxing is not a cheap sport and Motekiai and his family have raised money so he can continue to get closer to his dream.

Naiomi said the costs include travel, accommodation, food, uniforms and equipment. Thanks to his sponsors, the pressure on his family to cover the costs has been partly removed.

Motekiai wanted to thank his sponsors: Acon Industries, Madison Sport, Rotovegas Boxing Gym, Team Huni, Details Excavations Ltd and Hip City Barbers.

He then hopes to go to America for a tournament next month or next year, and he hopes to compete in the 2026 Youth Olympics and Commonwealth Games.

– ZonLive