-Content supplied by Tauranga sports writer Barry Leabourn

An under-the-radar sporting event is set to bring nearly 300 competitors to Tauranga over King’s Birthday weekend for three days of boxing.

The 42nd North Island Golden Gloves tournament will begin with registrations on Friday, May 30, before competition gets underway at Tauranga Girls’ College on Cameron Rd.

North Island titles will be contested across a range of divisions.

The event offers a unique platform for emerging talent, with novice boxers – many competing in their first major tournament – sharing the ring and training space with experienced New Zealand representatives.

Among those attracting attention are two fighters currently ranked inside the top 100 in world amateur boxing.

Taupō welterweight Connor Campbell, fresh from competing at the 2026 World Cup in Brazil, is ranked 60th in the world.

He impressed internationally with a win over a highly credentialled Moroccan opponent and a victory against the World Championships silver medallist from Kyrgyzstan, before losing a split decision in the quarter-finals to a Canadian.

Also in action is five-time New Zealand light middleweight champion Wendell Stanley, who is ranked 94th globally. Stanley is trained by New Zealand boxing legend Lance Revill.

The tournament has drawn strong entries across divisions, including 76 age-group competitors and 84 senior novice fighters. The elite men’s division is among the most competitive, with 11 boxers vying for a North Island title.

Competitors and coaches will check in on Friday, with preliminary bouts starting at 11am on Saturday, followed by an evening session from 5pm. The same schedule will be repeated on Sunday, featuring semi-finals and age-group finals.

Finals for elite male and female divisions will take place on Monday, with Golden Gloves titles and national ranking points up for grabs.