The Dunedin club plans to rejoin the Otago Boxing Association and sever ties with Manawatu following the national championships which get under way in Rotorua next week.
Fight and Fitness split with the Otago Boxing Association in 2012 following a selection dispute which became complicated by a personality clash.
Director Ryan Henry felt his boxers were not being treated fairly by the association, so he approached Manawatu. His fighters have competed under the Manawatu banner at national competitions since.
"A lot of it was to do with unfair selection of fighters that had qualified to go to the nationals under New Zealand Boxing standards, but the Otago selectors decided not to send them," Henry said.
"We went to Manawatu and ended up winning titles with those fighters."
Henry found Manawatu "way easier" to deal with but a change at the OBA this year has paved the way for Fight and Fitness’ return.
Bryan Usher was elected president in August and he has been working on patching up the relationship and bringing the club back into the fold.
"Ryan and I are quite good friends and we have a shared passion for the sport of boxing," Usher said.
"I wasn’t around at the time when Ryan chose to go to Manawatu. He had his reasons for doing that and I didn’t disagree with those reasons.
"He stayed with Manawatu because they were easier for him to deal with. But we’ve talked to him for a long time about them coming back to the OBA.
"Between us and the other clubs in Otago, we could make Otago boxing really strong again."
While Henry feels the time is right to rejoin Otago, he wants to ease out of his commitment with Manawatu.
The club is sending six fighters to the nationals — Mane Marshall, Bridgette Sefton, Awatea Henry, Bryce Raynes, Rhiane Bishop and Sam Beck — and they will be representing Manawatu. But the OBA will meet next month and Fight and Fitness’ return will be on the agenda.
"One thing I’ve always said is the parents like their kids to be in their province’s colours," Henry said.
"I’ve always known that and everyone wants to represent their own province. But I just think, at the start of the rift, the discussion with some of the parents was that they were not going get to represent their province but at least they are going to get to go to the nationals."
Otago is sending three fighters — Callum Owen, Richie Hadlow and Kasib Murdoch. The latter two are strong favourites to retain their titles. Hadlow will be attempting to win the 64kg title for the fourth time in a row.
