CDL Promotions’ Fighting For Kira a major success

 
THERE was a boxing event at the WA Italian Club in North Perth last Friday, but the night was really all about one special little girl. The Perth boxing community came together and got behind a worthy cause at Western Alliance 14 – “Fighting For Kira”.

 
Kira Joyce, who turned 3 years old last week, has been faced with leukaemia and many other complications that came with it approximately 18 weeks ago.

 
Following the third bout of the evening, Kira and her family with close friends hopped in the ring and the entire crowd all joined together to sing Happy Birthday to Kira, which was a highlight of the night.

 
Promoted by Ty Colman and David Letizia from CDL Boxing Promotions, proceeds from the event will be donated to Kira.

“Fighting for Kira” was designed to assist Kira and her family with funding for treatment and further guidance for what will be required in time to come.

 
Many of CDL Boxing Promotions sponsors, suppliers, fighters, extended team and more came together for this very special event to be a part of an army of support for this great cause.

 
In late March, little Kira was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia. She has endured 17 surgeries, chemotherapy, and has recently been brought out of a 3 week induced coma, which she has been in to try let her little body fight off a deadly fungus infection which she has now caught because of her reduced immunity.

 
The cancer treatment has stopped until she can beat this fungus with the treatments being surgery and Kira having to go into a decompression chamber for 3-4 hours a day.

 
Kira has had to endure so many tests and procedures that no parent would ever want to put their child through. It makes us realise how lucky some of us are.

 
All the fighters wore pink boxing gloves for the fights.

 
In the main event, Nathaniel May claimed the WBO Asia Pacific Youth Super Featherweight Title with an impressive unanimous points victory over James Mokoginta.

 
The 19 year-old May, was quicker and used slick movement throughout the fight. However May was lucky not to be disqualified in round 8 when retaliating to a low blow he received from Mokoginta. May took some time to recover, but upon resumption seemed to deliberately hit Mokoginta with a low blow that had his opponent on the canvas in a spot of bother.

 
May received a warning and after Mokoginta was given time to recover, the fight continued, where May cruised to his point’s victory.

 
In the semi-main event of the night, Dean “The Punisher” Purdon was victorious when “Rockin” Riccardo Monteleone was unable to continue and retired on the stool after round 5. Monteleone was ahead in the scorecards at the time the fight was stopped. Monteleone had his head shaved in the ring after the fight to raise money for Kira.

 
In the fight of the night Renato Oliviera won a split decision victory over a gutsy Cyril Currie. Currie came out swinging wildly and bloodied the nose of Oliviera early as both guys consistently got into wild exchanges as the fight went on.

 
But it was Oliviera who was landing more punches consistently on Currie even though more damage was showing on the face of Oliviera. In the final round, Currie opened up a cut below the right eye of Oliviera and was awarded a knockdown which made the scorecards interesting.

 
In the end it was a split decision with judges scoring the bout 38-37, 39-38 Oliviera, 39-37 Currie.

 
TV personality Lauryn Eagle was impressive in her return to the ring with a unanimous point’s victory over Pantiwa Kaewmahosod. Eagle who is now trained by Billy Hussein was simply too quick for her opponent who tried her best to make it an ugly fight, but Eagle moved and picked her shots well.

 
It was ‘Battle of the Sexes’ in a charity bout as former WBO Female Lightweight World Champion Erin McGowan went 4 rounds with 43 year old rookie “Uncle” (To Kira) Chris Pirie. It was a fun fight all to raise more money for Kira. Pirie was happy to get through it and will most likely retire undefeated immediately after the fight was declared a draw.

 
In other action, Daniel McGlashon defeated MMA Star Steven Kennedy unanimous decision and Louisa “Bang Bang Lulu” Hawton dominated the experienced Muay Thai background fighter Payayong Sueksasonkro in the first fight of the evening.

 
 
Words: Brett Bonetti
Photo: Kim Johnson/Hitman Photography (hitmansblog.com)
 
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