Fighting for family and a good cause

We’re not saving everybody, but by hearing our voice that will hopefully spread the word.

Isaac Tupai

Wanting to be around for his family has inspired Manawatu¯ man Isaac Tupai on a weight loss and fitness journey.

Tupai is fighting in Snapback Boxing gym’s charity fight night at Awapuni Racecourse tonight, a journey that has had him training for about six months. He has lost 23 kilograms since he started training in May.

The fight night is a fundraiser for the Tamariki Toa charity, which is aimed at suicide awareness and prevention.

There will be 18 charity fights, including Tupai’s bout against Dwayne Maraki from Whanganui.

Tupai, 32, had got up to 178 kilograms, but since he started training he had dropped to 155kg.

He said he decided to do the charity fight for his five children, who were aged from 11 to 1.

‘‘I like training but it’s the eating as well. Those two go hand in hand for me to lose weight. I usually train, but I was eating. My wife got me on a plan.’’

Tupai, who works in construction, has been a devastating player in club rugby for College Old Boys and Freyberg, but this year played for the COB B side when his commitments allowed.

‘‘Just being overweight and trying to do running is tough. It gets a lot easier when you train up.’’

He said it had been a tough journey, but he had enjoyed sparring and the camraderie of the other fighters. He has been trained by Jeremiah Saua and Iulio Iulio.

Tupai had done boxing when at school, but this would be his first corporate fight.

‘‘I’ll try not to make it a street brawl.’’

He was keen to be involved with the fight night because it was for a good cause, but his main focus was to help his children.

He would consider continuing with boxing after this fight.

Organier Filipo Saua of Snapback Boxing said the event would apply by Covid-19 rules. The event has sold out and 400 people will attend.

He said all the fighters had someone in their lives who had been affected by suicide and mental health.

By running this event he said they wanted to show people it was OK to talk or ask people for help.

‘‘What we do is raise awareness in the community. We’re not saving everybody, but by hearing our voice that will hopefully spread the word.’’

One man is coming from New Plymouth to take part and other from Hastings.

The event was always scheduled for December and fighters have been training for about six months.