Boxing coach loses protege as Leti turns pro

BY KRIS DANDO - KAPI-MANA NEWS

Titahi Bay boxing guru Chris Kenny is gutted that he's lost the chance to train a possible Commonwealth Games medallist, following Leti Emilio Leti's decision to turn professional.

The talented 21-year-old welterweight, who recently won the national title in his division, beating two Kiwi representatives on the way, has been tempted to go to the United States by Las Vegas-based Top Rank Incorporated.

Top Rank is owned by promoter Bob Arum, who handled Muhammad Ali in 1966 and has promoted more than 9000 fights on 1500 cards in 22 countries.

Its current roster includes world champions Manny Pacquiao and Kelly Pavlik, along with superstars like Miguel Cotto and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.

Kenny is confident that Leti will be looked after and will do well on the international stage, but admits being disappointed that the young fighter didn't "hang on" until after the Commonwealth Games in Delhi next October.

"I think Leti would have had more bargaining power if he'd gone to Delhi and won gold," he said.
"I'd have loved him to stay on, but you can't blame him, and I wish him all the best, I really do.

"He's a confident kid, he loves the training  they [Top Rank] will give him a hard regime to follow but I'm sure he'll succeed. He can box and he can punch, which a lot of boxers can't combine."

Leti had not been in New Zealand from Samoa for long and was struggling to find work. Wanting to support his family, the switch was an easy decision to make.

Kenny says he wasn't consulted about the decision - "It was a bit of a shock, actually" - but professional promoters had been making enquiries about Leti through him for well over a year.

"I knew plenty of people had been checking him out, and he's improved so much that they obviously decided to jump in and make a good offer. That's how it goes, I guess."

Kenny also suffered another recent blow, with his push for the 2010 Oceania Championships to be held in Porirua not being backed by the regional association. It's likely the event will now be held in Australia in April.