Monty Betham following in his Father’s footsteps

Monty Betham following in his Father’s footsteps

Warrior’s and Kiwi’s sporting legend, Monty Betham, is stepping up his boxing career to fight for the New Zealand Cruiserweight title on the next SUPER 8 show at SKYCITY on November 3.

Betham’s father, Monty Senior, is a kiwi boxing icon, having held the New Zealand middle and light heavyweight crowns, and the Commonwealth middleweight title on two occasions. In the golden era of middleweight greats, Betham also fought WBC / WBA champion Allan Minter and WBA Super Welterweight Champion Ayub Kalule, both of whom lost their titles to hall of famers’ Marvin Hagler and Sugar Ray Leonard respectively.

Having been regarded as a “celebrity’ fighter much of his career, Betham Junior is keen to legitimize his boxing credentials and follow in his father’s footsteps.

“Although my professional career path has been different to dads, he instilled that same drive and ambition in me to achieve.

“As a kid I dreamed of winning a title like dad, now 30 years on I get a chance to do just that.

Monty Senior is a man of few words who has quietly watched his son’s league career with a great deal of pride and is now relishing the prospect of his son legitimizing his boxing career with a national title.

"Having my son go into the ring makes me happy and proud. He's a capable sportsman that has the right attitude and mindset to achieve in boxing.
“I'm confident in his abilities and know that he can do what he sets his mind to.”

Betham Junior is challenging hard hitting current New Zealand cruiserweight champion, James Langton, who’s riding high on the nine fight win streak, including KO wins over former champ, Monty Filimaea, former title challenger Scott Talialui and David Tua’s cousin Junior Pati.

“I’m a real test for Monty, he’s picked on a guy who’s won 9 in a row with 5 KO’s and has been fighting regularly.

“Monty’s a top class athlete with some great skills, but he’s only fought two celebrity novices in two years.

“He hasn’t been ten rounds which is experience he’s going to need, because the title is going to go to the guy who can go to dark places, battle through pain to take a win – and that will be me.”

There has been talk about Betham’s skills being good enough to emulate his father’s Commonwealth crown, but the 37 year old is taking things one step at a time.

“That's a long way off, first I need to beat James who is a formidable opponent with big power, after that I’ll look at my options, right now I have a title to win first.”

Event: SUPER 8 - IV
Date: Wednesday, 3 November August, 2015
Venue: SKY CITY - AUCKLAND
Website: www.vslive.co.nz

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