Shane Cameron

Infobox Boxer


name=Shane Cameron
imagesize=
realname=Shane Aaron Cameron
nickname=Mountain Warrior
weight=Heavyweight
height=188 cm (6 ft 2 in)
reach=187 cm (73.5 in)
nationality=NZL
birth_date=1977-10-17
birth_place=Wairoa, New Zealand
death_date=
death_place=
style=Orthodox
total=23
wins=22
losses=1
draws=0
no contests=0
KO=19|

Shane Aaron Cameron (born 17 October, 1977 in Gisborne, New Zealand) is former 2002 Commonwealth Games bronze medal winner and currently ranked as New Zealand's number one professional heavyweight boxer. Cameron held the WBA Pan African, IBF Pan Pacific and WBO Asia Pacific Heavyweight titles until he was recently beaten by Friday Ahunanya.

Amateur

He lost to Jason Douglas (boxer) in the semifinals of the 91 kg commonwealth games and won Bronze.

Pro career

Cameron made his professional debut on 2002-11-28, with a third-round knockout victory over Winston Palu in the Auckland suburb of Kohimarama. He defeated Shane Wijohn on 2004-12-04 in Auckland to win the New Zealand Heavyweight title, which he would later vacate in order to pursue international titles.

On 2006-07-28 in Auckland, Cameron added two more championships to his record, with a 10th-round technical knockout of Roger Izonritei. With that win, he captured the vacant WBA Pan African Heavyweight title, as well as Izonritei's IBF Pan Pacific title.

In October 2006, positioned 14th worldwide by the IBF, he is now for the first time ranked ahead of fellow countryman and world heavyweight title contender David Tua. As such Cameron has formally challenged Tua declaring: "David Tua said on television a while back 'Shane who?' but if he looks at who is ranked, I am, he's not, so he knows who I am now: and if he gets in the ring with me, he will know." ^{[http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3836307a1823,00.html]}

On December 3, 2006 Cameron enjoyed his 17th consecutive victory via a 9th round TKO of South African Osborne Machimana in Christchurch, thus retaining his WBA Pan African heavyweight title ^{[http://www.gisborneherald.co.nz/article.asp?aid=7501&iid=588&sud=42]} ( [http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/video/player/1,2502,92065a14835,00.html Video] ).

After the fight Cameron once again called for a match with Tua. However this isn't looking like it will happen in the near future, with Tua's adviser Inga Tuigamala responding "I know Shane Cameron has been banging the drum and wants to get it on with David, but from David's perspective, Shane is still on his way up the ladder and at the moment a fight between them would be of more benefit to Shane than David." ^{[http://xtramsn.co.nz/sport/0,,12021-6648856,00.html] [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/event/story.cfm?c_id=497&objectid=10428041]}

On March 7, 2007 Cameron fought Australian boxing veteran Bob Mirovic in an Anthony Mundine undercard fight at the Sydney Entertainment Centre. Despite breaking his right hand in the first round, and bleeding cuts above both eyes Cameron knocked Mirovic out in the eighth round via a left hook to the Australian's forehead to again retain his WBA Pan African title.

Once again a challenge was extended to Tua; Cameron's camp offering the fellow Kiwi NZ $250,000.00 to step in the ring. After the match Cameron's New Zealand manager Ken Reinsfield stated "We'd fight Tua in a heartbeat, but you can see why Tua doesn't want to fight him." ^{[http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/4/story.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10427701]}

Cameron added a third title to his collection on 2007-06-28, with a first-round TKO win over a jet-lagged Brazilian Jucimar Hipolito for the vacant WBO Asia Pacific Heavyweight title. Jucimar was a late replacement to Kelvin Davis who broke his back after jumping off a bridge to avoid a car in a nighttime run.

On November 2, 2007, Cameron suffered his first professional defeat at the hands of Friday Ahunanya. Cameron lost by a 12th round TKO decision after he was sent to the canvas twice after Ahunanya opened up bleeding cuts above Cameron's eyes.

Cameron surrendered all the titles he had previously won. Cuts to both eyes hampered his vision (cut right eye in round 3, cut left eye in round 9) and ability to avoid punches from his opponent in the later rounds. Even heading into round 12, according to commentators, he was leading in terms of points, so had he survived the final round, he could have still won the bout by points decision of some kind. Cameron's management still have high hopes for his future and have stated that they will allow three months for the cuts to heal properly before his next fight. ^{[http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/4/story.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10474026]}

On April 11, 2008 Cameron fought American Heavyweight Jonathan Haggler. Hagglers record being 18 wins and 2 losses. Cameron comprehensively knocked out Haggler in the eighth round. Winning the fight meant Cameron claimed the WBO Oriental, WBO Asia-Pacific and IBF Pan-Pacific belts. He only slightly bled from above his recently operated on left eyebrow.

His next fight is scheduled for late June

See also

* 2002 Commonwealth Games

External links

*
* [http://www.solidboxing.co.nz/Boxers/cameron_profile.html Shane Cameron's profile and news]
* [http://www.garyshawproductions.com/Fighters/Cameron/index.shtml Cameron's profile at Gary Shaw Productions]
* [http://www.shanecameron.co.nz Shane Cameron's Official Home Page]