Zoe Putorak and Kendall Stewart to fight for WBC title in NT Fight Series
The NT Fight Series will make history this weekend as it features the first ever world title bout to ever be fought in the Northern Territory. Read what’s planned for this year’s edition.
The NT Fight Series is back for its sixth year, with this edition to make history as it plays host to the Territory’s first ever world title fight this Saturday.
Joe ‘Astro’ Rodrigues and Andy Price started the NT Fight Series on Australia Day in 2019 as a grassroots initiative to give young fighters the chance to show their skills in the Territory.
And now it has grown into a globally recognised spectacle with fighters from across Australia and several different countries including Nepal, Thailand and Canada making the trip.
This year will take the event to a whole new level with the World Boxing Council putting up the first ever world title fight to be fought in the Northern Territory.
The title fight will be fought between Australian Zoe Putorak and Canadian Kendall Stewart, while there will be a great group of Muay Thai bouts between Territorians.
Rodrigues has played a huge role in a lot of the fighters lives giving them chances both in the Territory and in his capacity as the Australian national coach.
“Zoe is an Australian girl who we gave an opening two years ago to fight for a WBC title and now she’s a four time world champion across the board,” Rodrigues said.
“Then there’s one of my boys in Jaxson Hayman, who started with me as a 15-year-old, he’s got 18 fights with 18 wins across the country and now he’s fighting for a national title.
“He’s one of the most furious boys with his elbows, and then we have a couple of girls as well including Taleisha Kirk, who is coming online as well.
“We’re building a lot of young fighters who are born and bred in the Territory and coming out of the gym with zero fights and progressing.
“If people have nothing to do on the long weekend come down to support these young fighters, but this is history making for us, it’s crazy.”
Price was similarly pleased with the progress the event had enjoyed in its short history with it set to be hosted at Ventia Stadium from 6pm on Saturday.
“Every event we do we sell out so we have to keep going for bigger and bigger venues every year,” Price said.
“This year we’ve had to go for Ventia, because we keep running out of capacity and if we can hit that 1000 mark that would be ideal.
“Without our major sponsors in NB Automotive and Neptune Security none of this would be possible, and we would love to see the likes of NT Major Events jump on board too.
“This is one of the fastest growing sports in the world and this event is hugely popular in the Territory, events like these are what Darwin deserves.
“There’s probably about 150-200 people coming to the NT just to watch this event, which for something with zero government support in the Wet Season is remarkable, it’s a really good venture.”
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Originally published as Zoe Putorak and Kendall Stewart to fight for WBC title in NT Fight Series
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