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Local rivals Gunnar Jackson
(15-3-3, 5 KOs) and Adrian
Taihia (8-1-2, 4 KOs) are set to
clash for the vacant World
Boxing Federation Oceania Super
Middleweight title on April 5 at
the ABA Stadium in Auckland, New
Zealand.
The match-up is a highly
anticipated rematch of their
October 2012 encounter, which
ended in a ten-round draw at the
same venue, and is appropriately
dubbed “Unfinished Business” by
promoter Craig Thompson, who is
reporting that the event is
close to a sell-out.
Raised in Wellington,
26-year-old Gunnar “The Stunna”
Jackson turned professional in
2010 with a loss, but has since
rebounded well. Last year he
captured the New Zealand
national title as well as the
PABA crown, and he feels he
knows what it takes to set
things straight with Taihia:
“Since we have fought before, I
have a good idea of how he is
going to fight in the rematch.
He will come forward, try to put
the pressure on, and we will
have a game plan ready”, said
Jackson when interviewed
recently. “We have watched the
video of the first fight, and I
know what to do!”
Adrian Taihia (30) had his first
paid fight in 2008, and went
undefeated until clashing with
world-ranked, and much more
experienced, Australia-based
Kenyan Kariz Kariuki the
following year. Since then it
has been all wins, except for
the draw with Jackson.
Auckland resident Tahia has
never lost at the ABA Stadium,
where all his professional
bouts, except for the Kariuki-loss
in Australia, has taken place,
and he will be entering the
rematch with Jackson feeling
very much at home and determined
to prove he is the better of the
two.
The Gunnar Jackson vs. Adrian
Taihia WBF Oceania Super
Middleweight title fight will be
promoted by Craig Thompson / CTP
Boxing in association with TKO
Entertainment, and
marks the entrance of the WBF
into New Zealand, which is a
sign of the solid work done
there by Oceania Coordinator
Ricky Bushell. |
