Middleweight boxers Dave "Hurricane Hedgehog" den Hertog
(left) versus unanimous winner Brett "The Jet" Black in the
first of 11 bouts in last night's Thriller in the Chiller
II. Photo by Stefan Haworth.
After a gruelling 15-week training regime, the bell
finally tolled for the 22 competitors in the Queenstown Winter
Festival charity boxing Thriller in the Chiller II gala event.
Staged at the Queenstown Events Centre last night in front of
a capacity crowd of 1300, the Thriller was one of the most
anticipated events on the festival's calendar with pride,
reputation and jawbones on the line as men and women squared
off in 11 matches of three two-minute bouts.
Ringside the atmosphere was charged as TV presenters Clint
Brown and Howard Dobson ushered in Coronet Peak head of
maintenance Dave "Hurricane Hedgehog" den Hertog who took on
Shotover Jet driver Brett "The Jet" Black in the first match
to the sound of Survivor's Eye of the Tiger.
At 168cm and weighing 69.4kg, the defensive van Hertog (39)
was edged out by 177cm, 72kg Black (38) in a unanimous
decision.
In the second round 182cm, 92kg produce manager Jochen "The
Judge" Wauters (34) outboxed feisty 182cm, 95kg Queenstown
Golf Club food and beverage manager Ben "Prime Time" Kyllonen
(35).
Round Three saw 177cm, 80.6kg reporter Ryan "Mean@Scene" Keen
(32) best 173cm, 81.3kg plasterer Sean "Sledgehammer" Sutton
(30) with some deft footwork - despite the crowd clearly
being on Sutton's side throughout the bout.
Money raised from ticket sales and a charity auction goes to
the Bruce Grant Youth Trust, which supports youth under 25 in
sport, arts and culture endeavours. Organisers were hoping to
top the $40,000 raised last year.
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