Fight card:
Mea Motu v Tania Walters - Motu wins via unanimous decision
Justin Hodges v Liam Messam - Messam wins via unanimous decision
Jerome Pampellone v Mose Auimatagi - Pampellone wins via first-round TKO
DJ Forbes v Sione Faumuina - Faumuina wins via unanimous decision
Andrei Mikhailovich v Edisson Saltarin - Mikhailovich wins by fifth-round TKO
Sam Tuitupou v Roy Asotasi - Tuitupou wins via first-round KO
10:24pm - Motu's done it! She's won by unanimous decision and is the new IBO world super bantamweight champion!
Motu v Walters - Motu wins via unanimous decision
Round 10 - Walters again connects on the inside, before Motu looks to attack the body. Walters lands a sneaky uppercut, with both visibly tired. Motu again works the body, before they wrap up and the bell sounds! Motu should have it, but it could be close.
Round nine - Walters lands a great shot right up the middle, with Motu over-extending herself. Walters lands a huge left hook and Motu looks to be in a bit of trouble and eats a couple more for good measure as the bell rings.
Round eight - Motu comes out strong, setting up a shot upstairs with a thumping body shot. Walters lands a chopping left hook, before Motu gets another warning for holding.
Round seven - Walters' corner believe Motu is tiring. Walters turning it on with a few short shots, and rips into Motu's body. Motu lands a huge left hook as both swing for the fences at the end of the round.
Round six - Motu comes out firing after a spur on from her coach. Motu lands a leaping left hook, follow by a nice combo to the body and head, but Walters responds with a shot of her own.
Round five - Neither giving an inch, fighting in very close quarters, and Motu lands a big right. Motu goes back to the body, before Walters lands with a cross from the clinch. They tangle again and both land over the top as the bell rings.
Round four - Both land good shots to the chin. Motu gets another warning for a shot to the back of the head. Walters goes to the body, before going back to the top. Fight getting a bit scrappy as they grapple again.
Round three - Both come out swinging straight away to start the round. Motu lands a good left hook, but Walters looks very composed. Motu with another flurry, she's certainly the more active of the two, but not a lot landing. Walter lands a big right hand to end the round.
Round two - Walters showing a very tight guard, proving tricky for Motu to penetrate. Motu gets a warning for a shot to the back of the head. Motu just looks to be rushing a bit, as the two wrap up and both find success on the inside.
Round one - Motu's fast punching troubling Walters, but the Canadian lands a nice right over the top. Motu shifts to the body and unleashes a good flurry. Walters lands a stiff jab, before another right over the top as the bell sounds.
9:44pm - Motu begins to make her way and the crowd are up on their feet! The Kiwi walks out to Six60 and is absolutely all smiles.
9:42pm - Walters the first to make her walk to the ring. She looks calm, giving a couple of those in the crowd a fist-bump en route.
9:40pm - We're finally ready for the main event! Motu v Walters...can the Kiwi become just the fifth world champion from New Zealand? We're about to find out.
9:28pm - So, rugby wins the code war tonight! But we still have the main event to come. Kiwi Mea Motu is fighting for the vacant IBO world super bantamweight title!
9:24pm - Messam says he won't be making a run for the NZ heavyweight title, he's spent. Hodges pays his respect to Messam and the event.
9:22pm - Messam wins it for rugby! In a fight that could've gone either way, the former All Black gets the nod for perhaps being the busier of the pair.
Messam v Hodges - Messam wins via unanimous decision
Round four - Both landing big shots now, looking to finish on a high. Messam misses with a leaping left hook. Messam complaining to the referee but falls on deaf ears, he looks visibly annoyed with himself. They wrap up as the bell rings. We're going to the scorecards!
Round three - Hodges stalking Messam, finding success with the jab. Messam riding Hodges' biggest blows really well, absorbing the power. Messam switching stances, but looks frustrated with Hodges holding him. Messam ends the round with a solid shot to the mid-section.
Round two - Hodges looks to land a leaping left, before Messam lands two heavy shots to the body. Hodges swings hard with the right but misses. Messam with a huge left, forcing Hodges onto the ropes. Hodges displaying a tough chin, taking a few heavy shots.
Round one - A much slower, more conversative start from these fighters compared to the previous bouts. Messam landing the bigger shots, forcing a smile from Hodges. Messam ends with a good flurry, with a nice left hook landing.
9:03pm - Messam first to make the walk, before Hodges is met by boos as the former league star looks to get back to winning ways.
8:52pm - Our last of the cross-code bouts up next! Liam Messam takes on Justin Hodges. Who will win the night for their sport?
8:50pm - Pampellone and his coach Isaac Peach call for a big-name fight next, before the latter declares his boxer the best in the world.
8:46pm - Pampellone kept it simple, offering a left, right, left and another right to send Auimatagi to the canvas. The referee had a good look but waved it off.
Pampellone v Auimatagi - Pampellone wins via first-round TKO
Round one - Pampellone lands two huge shots but Auimatagi takes them well. He lands another huge shot from a flurry and sends Auimatagi crashing down! He gets up, but the referee waves him off and it's all over! Pampellone with a huge statement victory.
8:40pm - Second professional fight of the night! Both fighters make their way, looking very focused. Should be a great scrap between mates!
8:30pm - Up next is Jerome Pampellone and Mose Auimatagi. Two friends fighting for the IBF light heavyweight Australasian title.
8:20pm - Forbes says he's most likely one and done, but is grateful for the experience. Both fighters left absolutely everything in the ring.
8:18pm - Faumuina says Asotasi's knockout defeat motivated him to get one back for rugby league. As well as a cheeky dig at TAB for making him a 4-1 underdog.
Forbes v Faumuina - Faumuina wins via unanimous decision
Round three - Faumuina lands big left hook, but Forbes' defence holding well. Faumuina unleasing on several unanswered shots, with Forbes on wobbly legs and the referee calls a standing count. Forbes survives, and Faumuina looks gassed. Faumuina launches himself with a leaping superman shot and the bell sounds! Faumuina is absolutely shattered.
Round two - Both unloading early on, with Forbes connecting with an unorthdox jab. Faumuina moving his head well, and wraps up his opponent as he leapt in. Faumuina ends the round well with a good combo, snapping Forbes' head back.
Round one - Interesting that only Forbes has headgear on. Faumuina looking the much more composed, keeping Forbes at range with his reach advantage, but Forbes finds a home with a few good shots near the end of the round.
8:03pm - Faumuina first to make his way to the ring, keeping it relaxed, dancing his way to the middle. Forbes looking less relaxed, but focused.
8pm - Next up is former All Blacks Sevens captain DJ Forbes and former Warrior Sione Faumuina. Another cross-code heavyweight scrap!
7:57pm - Mikhailovich gives a colourful post-fight speech, and the crowd are loving it. He retains his two belts and calls for a world-title shot.
7:55pm - A great comeback by Mikhailovich, overcoming a first-round knockdown to finish his opponent with a cracking liver shot.
Mikhailovich v Saltarin - Mikhailovich wins by fifth-round TKO
Round five - Mikhailovich always the showman, adopting a karate style for a brief moment. Mikhailovich determinded to control the centre of the ring, walking his opponent down. Mikhailovich unloads with a flurry and drops Saltarin with a body shot! Mikhailovich smells blood and drops him again! Referee says that's enough and Mikhailovich wins via TKO!
Round four - Saltarin again lands a late shot from the break. Mikhailovich finding his feet though, and lands a nice left hook. Both leaning on each other, trying to land the short-ranged blow. Mikhailovich really attacking Salatarin's body before both give a good stare after the bell.
Round three - Both fighters keen to keep it close, not willing to back away and give the other the centre, but Mikhailovich doing the better of the two to control the ring. Mikhailovich lands a couple of big blows but Saltarin absorbs them well.
Round two - Mikhailovich's left jab finding a home, before taunting his opponent with a nice combo. Saltarin coming back well, but Mikhailovich unloads on a few heavy uppercuts to rock his opponent's head back. Saltarin hits from the break and gets a warning.
Round one - Mikhailovich is dropped after just 20 seconds! Saltarin's very first shot sends the Kiwi down. Mikhailovich has recovered well, and is offering good uppercuts from close range. Neither giving an inch, firing big shots, but Saltarin getting the better of the exchanges.
7:30pm - Mikhailovich enjoying himself in his walkout, looks very relaxed and composed. He is currently ranked No.5 in the world. Huge opportunity for him.
7:28pm - So here we are, our first professional bout of the night. Saltarin makes his way to the ring first to some very funky Venezuelan music.
7:27pm - Next up is Kiwi-Russian Andrei Mikhailovich taking on Edisson Saltarin in a middleweight title fight - two belts on the line.
7:24pm - Tuitupou thanks his many plus ones for supporting him tonight, while Asotasi admits he's much more of a "lover than a fighter". Massive respect to them both.
Tuitupou v Asotasi - Tuitupou wins via first-round KO
7:18pm - Asotasi had his hands very low, and Tuitupou made him pay right away, sending him crashing to the canvas, leaving the former NRL star stunned.
Round one - Oh my word, Tuitupou knocks out Asotasi in just over 10 seconds! He unloaded on rights over the top and his opponent had absolutely no answer. What a start!
7:10pm - I AM HOPE founder Mike King announces Asotasi first to the ring, before Tuitupou is joined by his family in his walkout.
7:05pm - First up tonight we have former All Black, Blues midfielder Sam Tuitupou taking on NRL veteran Roy Asotasi. What a cracker to get us started!
7pm - Ding ding, we're all set for another epic night of boxing at Auckland's Eventfinda Stadium.
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Kia ora, good evening, and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of the annual Fight for Life charity boxing event at Auckland's Eventfinda Stadium.
A women's world title fight will act as the main event, with Kiwi Mea Motua (15-0), taking on Canada's Tania Walters (4-1) for the vacant IBO super bantamweight crown.
The co-main will see Jerome Pampellone (15-0) defend his IBF Australasian light heavyweight title against friend Mose Auimataga Jr (14-2).
Rising Kiwi-Russian middleweight Andrei Mikhailovich also returns to the ring to take on unbeaten Venezuelan Edisson Saltarin (16-0).
But in traditional Fight for Life form, the card will also feature several former rugby and league stars duking it out in a cross-code war.
Former All Black Liam Messam will take on Brisbane Broncos legend Justin Hodges, while NZ sevens icon DJ Forbes will battle ex-Warrior Sione Faumuina. Sam Tuitupou and Roy Asotasi will kickstart the card.
We'll have all of the action from the opening bout at 7pm.
Fight card:
Mea Motu v Tania Walters (IBO world super bantamweight title)
Justin Hodges v Liam Messam (heavyweight)
Andrei Mikhailovich v Edisson Saltarin (middleweight)
DJ Forbes v Sione Faumuina (heavyweight)
Jerome Pampellone v Mose Auimatagi (light heavyweight)
Sam Tuitupou v Roy Asotasi (heavyweight)
Kiwi mum-of-five Mea Motu out to defy odds with world title win at Fight for Life
The countdown is on for the annual Fight for Life charity boxing event next Thursday in Auckland.
Featuring a range of Kiwi and international fighters., the card will raise funds for mental health charity 'I am Hope', while also doubling as a chance for professional boxers to contend for world titles.
Twelve boxers from across the world will compete, with Kiwi Mea Motu and Canadian Tiana Walters creating history by being the first women to headline the event.
"Ready to smash it," said Motu.
They'll fight for the IBO super bantamweight world title, just two years after 33-year-old Motu returned to the sport.
"I never thought it was going to be possible until I had my first fight," she said of her world title bid. "But now it's been my dream for the past two years."
The mum of five has gone professional, with a flawless record through 15 bouts and winning four national titles along the way.
Less familiar with ring-craft is former NZ Warrior Sione Faumuina, who'll face sevens legend DJ Forbes.
Faumuina will make his boxing debut, after he used the sport to kickstart his fitness journey a few years ago.
The 42-year-old admitted he'd neglected his health since hanging up his boots in 2009.
"I ran into a hardcore Warriors fan who had seen the massive weight gain and had a few 'nice things' to say about it," Faumuina joked. "They spurred me on.
As they've both proven, Faumuina and Motu believe it's never too late to make changes in life.
