The challenge had been issued to fighters across the country; and on July 5 it was Paeroa’s Fox Den Combat Gym which came out on top, with three of its members claiming belts and World Kickboxing Association New Zealand titles.
‘Hauraki Combat’ was Fox Den’s first official fight event since opening its doors late last year. Held at the Paeroa War Memorial Hall, the event featured 25 fights involving 13 Fox Den members.
Mikayla (Kayla) Fatamaka, 16, took out the NZ Junior Women’s title against Hunni Fariu from SALT Gym in Auckland; while 31-year-old Tim Lingley beat out Auckland New Era Gym’s Jeff Tautogi for the Regional North Island title.
The headliner fight against Forged Fitness Rotorua’s Issac Morgan-Rangikataua was won by Kayla’s brother Leighton Fatamaka, 17, who now holds the Cruiserweight NZ Junior title.
Kayla and Leighton’s father, coach and former fighter Zack Fatamaka said the trio, and all of the club’s fighters, worked hard for their achievements.
“I’m proud of these guys. Some really good wins, some hard losses, but lessons learned for us,” Zack said.
“We’re back to the drawing board at the moment – we’re just changing the way we’re training to accommodate what we picked up in terms of fighters’ performance, the way they’re moving.”
Fox Den Combat Gym, which initially ran under the name Paeroa Boxing and Fitness, closed down during Covid-19. It wasn’t until late last year that Leighton convinced his father Zack to revive the club.
“I do have a history with [kickboxing]. But at the time, it was either become a full-time professional fighter or create my roofing and building business,” Zack said.
“And then in the middle of last year, Leighton started… saying, ‘Dad, can you train me, please?’ They’ve reignited my love for the sport.”
In just nine months, Leighton has claimed four belts. Along with his most recent title, he also holds two North Central Island titles, and is the NZ Iron Fist 90kg champion.
“It was actually just meant to be a little bit of a side thing and then sort of took over our life,” Leighton said.
“We’ve trained pretty hard. I thought I was fit as when I first started… Then I had my first fight and nah.
“I love it though. I love to grind, love being busy. Keeps me sane.”
Leighton’s success soon drew Kayla into the ring as well, and in just seven months’ training, she’s also taken to the sport completely.
“I love it. It takes a lot of pressure off when I come back from work – I just bang the pads,” she said.
July 5 was Kayla’s first five-rounder fight, and although she came away “knackered”, she was thrilled with the result.
Tim, meanwhile, has been in the sport for a couple of years, after switching codes from boxing and training for a time in Hamilton. He loves the tight-knit Fox Den community, he said, which thrives on the dedication of the Fatamaka family.
“It’s a huge amount of time, and you don’t make money off it. Zack and [wife] Tracey, they’ve got their own family, their own business. Life is very full,” he said.
“It doesn’t happen without them.”
There was a lot of support from the Jacobsen and Laurent families too, Zack said, who along with the club’s sponsors have put an enormous amount of time and energy into keeping things running.
Now, the fighters are working towards their next event on October 4, ‘Hard Knocks’.
“It’s good to see the rewards come through with the wins and stuff. But October 4th is a big one. It’s international opponents coming in.”
His fighters were up for the challenge, he said.
“We have a programme called Couch to Coached. You train like a fighter, you eat like a fighter, and you go to fight after your 20 weeks’ training. We do a lot of road work. We do a lot of pad work, a lot of gym work, a lot of IQ stuff.
“[Leighton’s] got a really strong mindset, which is good because a lot of these guys feed on that. They see him working and putting in the effort.”
But the titles and belts are just a bonus for Leighton.
“They’re not what I’m chasing, really. The main goal [is] to get my last name out there and rep my family,” he said.
