A shot at the Commonwealth Games

Connor Campbell and Nuki’s Taupō Boxing Gym head coach Marshall Powell are plotting a path to the Commonwealth Games

Taupō boxer Connor Campbell has won through to the New Zealand Elite Team, meaning he will travel overseas in 2026 to continue the selection process for the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC).

Campbell (current NZ 65kg Youth Champion) beat Wellington’s Charlie Hickey (NZ 65kg Elite Champion) last weekend in a box off held at the High-Performance Sport New Zealand base at the Cambridge Velodrome.

The win puts him in with a chance to attend next year's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

He will be one of a current team of 12 boxers (male and female) all vying for the six spots available for New Zealand boxers at the upcoming games in July 2026.

To take one of the spots athletes are judged on their performances at a number of tournaments, three of which are in Australia, including the King of the Ring in February/March as well as the Under 19 Futures Cup in March in Thailand, the World Boxing Cup 1 in April in Brazil and the World Boxing Cup 2 in June in China.

To satisfy NZOC standards athletes must be ranked on Boxing New Zealand’s pound-for-pound list based on performances across these approved tournaments, fulfil all selection requirements and have the capacity for a top six finish at the Commonwealth Games.

They must have competed in three international events including one World Boxing Cup to be eligible for NZOC nomination.

Campbell has one of these required steps having already won a bronze medal at the Queensland Golden Gloves this year.

“Now the hard road begins,” says Nuki’s Taupō Boxing Gym head coach Marshall Powell.

Campbell’s outstanding record of 43 wins from 51 bouts, being a 2024 Oceania gold medallist, 2025 65kg Youth Champion, 2025 most scientific youth boxer, NZ champion for five years and a host of Golden Gloves titles had bought him to the attention of NZ selectors for the bout in Cambridge, says Powell.

Campbell will become an elite boxer on January 1 next year, he says.

“It was great to see that Connor was given this chance, and even better to see Connor take the bull by the horns and put his all into training over the last 12 weeks, while still holding down a full-time job, working 12-16 hour days and staying away at times due to work requirements.”

Powell is also chuffed with the progress of female boxer Mezmorise Anderson from Lake Waikaremoana, trained by her father Ihaka, who Nuki’s Gym has helped.

Anderson won the 65 kg Elite 2025 NZ female title and best female overall, as well as most scientific boxer. Then at the Queen of the Ring tournament in Perth in October she won gold in the 65kg Elite females, 70kg Elite females and was named best female overall.

Anderson will also be competing internationally for an NZOC spot.

Powell says each boxer is facing costs of around $14,000 to try to qualify as only the costs of going to the Commonwealth Games are covered by Boxing NZ and the NZOC.

“I know it’s a sad way to end a great story but with all this ahead and primarily athlete-funded, if there are any businesses out there that wish to sponsor a boxer… touch base with our gym.

“It’s a difficult road, but one that they have to take.”