Tappys Boxing Gym

 

There is always history behind every story, and this is ours.

Growing up as a kid Boxing was first introduced to me (Travis Tapatuetoa) when in the 90s they would stream movies on television & me and my father (Tappy) would watch all the "ROCKY" movies they showed. This is where boxing had started to grow on me, but during this time I was active in other sports such as soccer, cricket, rugby league. My father coached me in all these sports and rugby league was the sport he thought I would thrive in, but I wasn't the greatest. Soccer and cricket on the other hand I was really good at, I would have the "Rocky Balboa" movies on repeat this lit a fire in me that kept me wanting to learn boxing.

One day I built up the courage to tell my dad "Dad I want to try boxing" he laughed at me and said, "ok son I will take you to the boxing gym". I was so excited my whole family knew and this is where I found out from my older sister that my dad was a boxer, he never bragged about his boxing days and was so humble about it when I asked him "dad is it true, you use to be a boxer" he replied "yes son". This made the fire in me grow stronger for boxing because it wasn't only just a thought to want to try boxing, but it now flows in my blood through my dad.

My first boxing gym was called SAINS in Otahuhu. I wasn't there for too long, but then later joined the late Gerry Preston's boxing gym in Mangere Bridge. Like every kid they have a dream mine was to be a champion one day but after my very first boxing bout I knew this goal was going to be hard, this takes a lot of heart, hard work & discipline. Gerry Preston's gym became my second home, over the year he became ill, he asked my dad to look after his boys and handed him the keys. The late Gerry Preston was a well-known man in the boxing industry & along the way coached some of the greats like David Tua, Jimmy Thunder, Paea Wolfgramme and many more champions. Gerry will always be remembered and talked about he is the history behind what we now call "Tappy's Boxing Gym".

2005 is where "Tappy's Boxing Gym" was born it was very fitting that my dad got given the gym keys because he also has history from his boxing career. Tappy was an Auckland rep for NZ Nationals. He held the Hawkes Bay NZ title belt and fought NZ's best fighter Dennis Smith for a title fight which he lost in but came back and won the non-title fight. Tappy was no stranger to Gerry Preston which is why I believe he trusted my dad to take over the gym.

2005-2018 Tappy coached a lot of fighters, his heart was big for this boxing gym that for years he never charged anyone. Over time boxing events started happening and so Tappy started with a low membership fee at $50 a year, but he would still pull money out from his own pocket when we would have to travel far for events. My mum "Helen Tapatuetoa" was the boxing manager but had also worked a 9-5 job to support our family and also supporting the boxing the gym doing all the behind-the-scenes work. I take my hat off to my dad for providing a safe space where anyone could come and train.

Tappy ran a few boxing promotions in his time where he trained me, Ikani Falekaono, Sefo Falekaono, Hale Faiumu and the famous Isaac Peach, Patrick "Magic" Mailata. This was a few of our amateur boxers at the time and we did well as a team. We even got to compete in the Commonwealth Games, Auckland Champs, Golden Gloves, NZ Nationals and more where we won some title fights.  I entered the South Pacific Games 2007 and the Commonwealth Games 2010 with my dad (Tappy) as my coach where I represented our small island "NIUE". Each and every one of these names above made a name for themselves and achieved a lot in boxing, I'm grateful I got to rub shoulders with these champs.

2018 - My dad (Tappy) illness progressed so he asked me to run the gym, this was our darkest year for the gym as we had no members, or we will get the odd drop ins here and there. It was literally just me and my brother (Denzel) training we kept the doors open anyways. My partner then suggested to create a Facebook page where we got to advertise "Tappy's Boxing Gym" and from here our numbers started to grow. Whilst I was running the gym I was also training myself; an opportunity arose for me through my cousin to represent Niue again at the South Pacific Games in 2019 alongside the Meti brothers (Braverly & Zalmon) who trained in Brisbane. I worked a 9-5 job, coached my team and also had to get my trainings in, it was tough not having my dad coach me but the passion and determination for this very sport got me there. I won BRONZE for my people, for my family for "ME" this was my biggest achievement yet. With everything thrown at me during this prep and to walk out with an achievement just says, "YOU CAN DO ANYHTING IF YOU PUT YOUR MIND TO IT".

2019 - I was yet again given the opportunity to represent our Island Niue in the 2022 Commonwealth Games where I was qualified from my bronze medal, I earned from the South Pacific Games 2019 in Savaii. At this point I was the only one going to represent our small Island. Lolo Heimuli reached out to me about two of his fighters with NZ titles under their name, Xavier Ikinofo & Duke Tukituia who were keen to represent Niue. Followed by another fighter Deniro Clarke that completed our team. This was huge for me so this time I needed a coach; I asked Lolo if he could be our coach for the 2022 Commonwealth Games held in Birmingham and he accepted. With only 5months of preparation the gloves were back on all while still working a 9-5 job (which I eventually had to resign from 2months out from Commonwealth Games). We had JP Athletic for Strength & Conditioning, Lorina Thompson with the dietician contact and getting the behind-the-scenes stuff sorted for us. During this camp I learned so much from Lolo Heimuli (BLG) and the experience I gained from my dad (Tappy) being my only two coaches in my lifetime with boxing. I didn't get the results I wanted but I'm proud one of our Niuean fighters "Duke Tuiktua" walked away with Bronze making history for Niue's first Commonwealth Games medal. 

Since then, right up to this day I have continued to coach fighters out of Tappy's Boxing Gym including my brother Denzel Tapatuetoa and many others fighting under the corporate scene. My next goal would be to take my own fighters from Tappy's Boxing Gym into Amateur where my fighters can achieve something greater and build more experience weather they win or lose consistency is key "An active fighter, is a dangerous fighter. I have seen a lot of talent walk through our doors some of these talents stay around and some leave after experiencing their first boxing match. If this is what you really want, as a fighter it takes guts and discipline to have the reputation to reach greater heights for better opportunities to further your career in boxing. There is no magic pill, you need to put the work in and go through the hard yards to take you to the top. Tappy is the very pillar for this gym, and I will carry his name with me in this generation and the ones to come. So, bring your best and be the best version of yourself, you got to have the will because without the will there is no power. Hard work beats talent, if talent doesn't work hard "YOU NEVER LOSE UNTIL YOU ACTUALLY GIVEUP.

 

- Travis Tapatuetoa