New Zealand Professional Boxing Association

New Zealand Professional Boxing Association (NZPBA) is one of the four governing bodies for the sport of professional boxing in New Zealand. NZPBA is a non-profit organisation.
History.
The Body was founded as South Pacific Boxing Association, with the name changed to New Zealand Professional Boxing Association inc in 1984 at their AGM. The new name was greeted and accepted by the World Bodies and Commonwealth Boxing Council.
In 2006, NZPBA had their first female national champion with Daniella Smith defeating Sue Glassey for the Super Welterweight title. Smith is New Zealand's second professional National Champion.
In 2015, NZPBA had the first-ever openly gay judge in the world train and officiate with the association. Benjamin Thomas Watt is now a well respected and an active member in the association before he left in 2018 to join Pro Box NZ.
In April 2016, NZPBA sanctioned New Zealand's first major world title fight (from one of the four major sanctioning bodies) for the WBC female middleweight title with Kali Reis defeating Maricela Cornejo by split decision. The fight night also featured two of New Zealand's first WBC Silver title fights with Melissa St. Vil defeating Baby Nansen and Ronica Jeffrey defeating Gentiane Lupi. On the same night, NZPBA had New Zealand's first female professional boxing referee, with Shelley Ashton officiating Nailini Helu vs. Kirsty Lupeamanu.
Controversy.
Former NZPBA President Lance Revill, is well known to stating his opinion to New Zealand's local media, causing major scrutiny to the association. Most recently, his comments were more directed at Joseph Parker. Since the beginning of Parker's career, Revill has made regular comments about Parker including when he turned pro, Parker's promoters only being interested in money, Parker being too hyped up and his believe that Parker didn't win his world title fight in December 2016. In February 2017, it was announced that due to the backlash of his comments against Parker, Revill resigned as president of NZPBA. Vise President John Conway was named interim President.
In 2009, Revill was seen in an intense argument with the opposing sanctioning body president, Gary McCrystal, of the New Zealand National Boxing Federation (NZBF). The argument took place immediately after an event that the NZNBF sanctioned with Lance Revill being hired by the promoter. Both presidents called each other an embarrassment of the sport.
In 2018, NZPBA officiated a corporate boxing event in Christchurch in November where first time corporate boxer Kain Parsons, was knocked unconscious. Kain Parsons was taken to Christchurch Hospital's intensive care unit, however, Parsons died four days later after the event. Vise President of the organisation at time Kevin Pyne was the referee of the fight. Former NZPBA President Lance Revill stated that he believed the fight should have been stopped earlier. In 2019, Kevin Pyne was elected president of NZPBA, despite being the referee of the fight.
Current roles.
Board members.
President: Kevin Pyne
Vise President: 1st John Conway, 2nd David Kettle
National Secretary: Fiona Moore
National Treasurer: Pat Leonard
Webmaster: Raylyne Siaosi and Kendall Cooper
Doctors: David Renata & Shaaren Jacobs
Regional Representatives.
Northland & Auckland: Jo Gallagher and Mal Siaosi
Bay of Plenty & Waikato: Bob Mitchell
Manawatu & East/West Coast: Shelley Ashton
Wellington Supervisor: Ian Scott
South Island Supervisor: Paul Fitzimmons