Amateur champion Cameron Kaihau signs professional contracts with JE Promotions
Amateur champion Cameron Khaihau, 25 from Doncaster, has put pen to paper to sign a one-year management contract with Joe Elfidh of JE Promotions.
The middleweight will be trained by his dad, Si Kaihau, at Mexborough ABC, and has been competing since he was 13-years-old, culminating in 31 amateur fights, once reaching the ABA Novices finals.
“My dad is my coach and he’s going into pros with me,” said Kaihau. “Boxing is in the family, my grandad was a professional boxer in Tonga and over here, and my dad had three amateur bouts and won them all.”
Cameron’s grandfather, Alaini, boxed professionally between 1958-1964 and knocked out five of his six victims. He fought between welterweight and middleweight and his first 12 bouts in New Zealand before moving to England in 1961.
Cameron, who counts Sugar Ray Leonard as his boxing hero, is still active as an amateur and has his final fight on November 17 for the Yorkshire light-heavyweight title.
“I’m still an amateur,” he confirmed. “Having my last fight on Saturday for the Yorkshire light-heavyweight belt. Hoping to go out with a bang!”
It’s the second time that Cameron has fought for the Yorkshire title, the first encounter going as horribly wrong as you could imagine.
He explained further, “I boxed for the Yorkshire belt before and I snapped my bicep tendon in the second-round. I went back to the corner and complained but I didn’t know the extent of the damage so I was going to go back out and box with my right hand only, but then the doctor looked at it and said no. When I looked down at my arm, the bicep had moved and I had what looked like a tennis ball by my shoulder!
“It took me a couple of years to get over that injury, I had surgery and couldn’t even jab for a year. Since I’ve been back from injury, I went straight into the English title series and lost to a tough kid on a split decision, then I had a few club bouts and entered into the Championships, then won the Mayor of Kirklees charity belt.”
The 25-year-old plans to compete in the paid ranks at middleweight to begin with, “I’ll be dropping down to middleweight, maybe even light-middle if I can make it. I’m 6’1” and my plan is to be a tall middleweight and keep them behind my jab.
“I like to mix it up but I’m an all-round boxer, I look for jabs and one-twos but I also like to fight on the inside; the left hook is favourite shot.
“My style is more suited to the pro game because I like to slow it down and pick my shots.”
The Balby boxer was unveiled to fight fans at the November 10 Trailblazers show and will debut on March 9 at North Notts Arena on the next JE Promotions event in the East Midlands.
“I just want to box on home shows and to listen to my dad and Joe. I’ll box every week if I can, but not worried about selling tickets because I’ve got quite a big following,” Kaihau enthused.
“I just want to go as far as I can, I don’t want to rush it but I’ll take it to the very top if I can.”
Manager Joe Elfidh commented on his new signing, “Cameron’s a fantastic talent from Doncaster and will be guided well by myself and his dad. I’m looking forward to working with him in the professional game.”
Follow JE Promotions on Twitter: @JE_Promotions
For tickets to the next show, visit JE Promotions’ FB Page or call 07883 943 994
JE Promotions would like to thank Kent Trade Frames – Campbell Nutrition – Swerve City – Basement159 – RoofDec – 1ClickPrint – Shiatsu Shane – Tierney Photography – Laking Painting & Decorating – Protect and Patrol – Invicta Gym and PR Manager Tim Rickson