Two of New Zealand's most respected Māori boxers will go head-to-head tonight in New Plymouth. Current New Zealand number one light heavyweight Rob "The Butcher" Berridge says he's looking to cement his name as the best when he faces Sam "The Terror" Rapira.
Berridge has 27 pro wins to his name and he's looking for number 28 tonight.
“Just to cement my name as number one in New Zealand Reece Papuni keeps running away so the next one is Sam Rapira.”
He's taking on one of Taranaki's favourite sons, IBO Asia Pacific light-heavyweight champion Sam Rapira.
“I'm expecting a battle, Berridge doesn't play games and I think I've been preparing the right way for this type of fight. I'll be ready for whatever he's bringing and he's coming to fight.”
Berridge says, “I think it's going to be stopped short, it's not going to make a difference, obviously I'm confident in myself but I'm not going to say that, I'm not going to jinx myself.”
Berridge is New Zealand's most experienced pro fighter of the moment, stacking up wins nationally and internationally, a southpaw fighter that packs a punch.
“I take every fight seriously, I've just done a different training camp for this fight and I hope that it pays off,” says Berridge.
The fight is set down for eight, three-minute rounds tonight at the TSB Stadium in New Plymouth.