Sport
19 February, 2021
Fighting for a good cause
A PRIZE pool of $20,000 will be donated to dozens of charities thanks to the Cairns Charity Fight Night being held next Saturday, February 27.
This will be the third charity fight night in five years organised by local personal trainer Rodney Little, and with 40 fighters and 20 fights on the cards it is set to be the biggest one yet.
Mr Little, who has been involved in boxing for 38 years, said the charity fight night encouraged new people to try boxing and was a great way to introduce new people to the sport.
“For about 32 of the fighters it’s their first ever event and a lot have only been training for the last ten weeks specifically for this fight, as a way to raise funds for a charity that they’ve selected,” he said.
Each fighter has raised $500 to compete. The winner of each match will take $750 and the loser will keep $250, which each will donate to their charity of choice.
Charities set to benefit include Beyond Blue, the Heart Foundation, Mareeba Animal Shelter, and many more.
Fighters are travelling to Cairns from as far afield as Townsville and beyond to compete.
One of the most anticipated fights of the night will be between Billz Nakachi and Karim Valentino Yorkston who are well-known around town.
Cairns local Adam Taylor, 39, also said he was looking forward to his match with Kenny Nyko, where he will raise money for a friend battling breast cancer.
The Manunda Hawks player said he first got into boxing when he was challenged to participate in the first Charity Fight Night in 2015, then came back better prepared for the second one in 2018, and now was preparing for his third.
“I fought the same guy twice in 2015 and 2018 and he was a lifelong boxer. I won the first fight against him despite having no experience, and then lost the second one despite training for it, which just goes to show that anything can happen in boxing,” he said.
“Most importantly, both myself and my opponent donated our funds to a local lady with brain cancer.”
Tickets are on sale now for the Charity Fight Night which will take place at Fred Moule Pavilion in the Cairns Showgrounds, with doors open at 6pm and first fight at 7pm.
Tickets are $35 presold or $40 for general entry. VIP tables also available. To book contact Rodney Little on 0402 414 413.
