Mea Motu Photo: PHOTOSPORT
New Zealand boxer Mea Motu is a world champion.
Motu has claimed the IBO super bantamweight world title after beating Canadian Tania Walters on the Fight for Life card in Auckland.
The 33 year old scored a unanimous decision, 98-92, 96-94, 99-91, in their 10-round bout.
Motu's difficult background, including surviving domestic violence, has been well documented and she was very emotional after her win last night.
It still hadn't really sunk in for the 33-year-old at Burger King today.
While she was ecstatic to be eating some burgers again, she had to fight back tears as she spoke about everything she overcame to win a world title.
"I already felt like I won because I had let everyone know who I am. I felt like a world champion because I've got people out there that are supporting me andd if I'm gonna save one life, that's all it takes is to save one life and help a child that's going through mental health. I feel like a champion. I didn't need that title to be a champion."
Boxers Mea Motu and Jerome Pampellone enjoy some Burger King after Fight For Life 2023. Photo: Jonty Dine
She says she wasn't just fighting for herself, her gym and her whanau.
"Every person that out there that has mentally struggled, you know, through life and just all the pain and trauma that a lot of our children are witnessing and that they don't deserve, believe that there's something in you. It doesn't have to be a sport. It's just like even passing a test and in school. That's a big achievement. People don't look at the smallest things can be the greatest things."
Motu said it was difficult to control her emotions early in the bout, particularly after a haka was performed as she made her way to the ring.
Coach Issac Peach her ceiling is limitless and they will be gunning for more world titles as soon as possible.
"Our goals are world titles, we got one last night which was amazing, but you can't rest , we're happy obviously but we are driven and we are nowhere near where we want to finish."
Motu said she is embracing the grind that comes with professional boxing and won't be slowing down.
"I want it to be hard, I want the next belt."
Motu now has a 16-0 record.
Meanwhile light heavyweight Jerome Pampellone beat Mose Auimatagi with a first round knockout, while middleweight Andrei Mikhailovich beat Venezuelan Edisson Saltarin with a knockout in the fifth round.
In the celebrity Rugby League v Rugby Union bouts, Liam Messam beat Justin Hodges by unanimous points, Sam Tuitupou beat Roy Asotasi with a first round KO and Sione Faumuina beat DJ Forbes (by unanimous points.