It was the first time in 68 years they had been in Whanganui.
This year, the event runs from September 29 to October 4 at Jubilee Stadium.
Tofa, who runs the River City Boxing Club, said a corporate boxing night would be held at Springvale Stadium on August 28, with funds raised going toward the nationals.
Members of the public are paired with opponents of similar size and ability, fighting over three two-minute rounds.
The club’s 2023 corporate night raised $50,000 for the Whanganui Cancer Society.
“We still need boxers for that. If you want to have a go, come down to the gym and see me,” Tofa said.
“Whanganui’s community and businesses can help us by buying a table for the event.
“You’ll get drinks, a buffet meal, entertainment, plus your logo on the flags for nationals.”
He said Boxing New Zealand was covering the cost of officials at the nationals but “everything is double” compared to 2022.
“We need two rings this time, and two doctors. Each doctor is $6000 by themselves.”
A River City Boxing Club corporate event in 2021. Photo / Mike Tweed
Boxing New Zealand president Josh Wharehinga said the event had been scheduled for Hawke’s Bay but unforeseen circumstances meant a new host had to be found.
“We went out for expressions of interest and a few people applied, but Eddie and Sandra [Tofa] have held Golden Gloves and nationals before,” he said.
“They’re experienced and seasoned. We’re really grateful to them for putting their hand up to run nationals at short notice.”
The Whanganui association includes clubs from Whanganui, Marton and Bulls.
Whanganui heavyweight Sale Oldehaver said he had taken a year off but was “back for another crack” at the nationals this year.
Oldehaver scored a highlight-reel knockout on his way to bronze in 2024.
“That was meant to be my last one, but I just got bored,” he said.
“I’ve also got a fight coming up on the BX-9 [professional boxing series] card next month.
“I’m trying to open up my own gym [Sal’s Boxing] so it’s good to keep doing stuff.”
Tofa said hosting the championships would be a challenge but would benefit Whanganui.
“There will be funding out there somewhere, you just need to work your a*** off.
“It’ll be busy, but it’s a good busy.”
Wharehinga said boxing in New Zealand ran “on the smell of sausage sizzles, car washes and an oily rag”.
But the nationals were where future Olympians and Commonwealth Games athletes came from, he said.
New Zealand will send seven boxers to the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games on July 23 to August 2.
“Nationals is a really important event, and you have to be trusted in order to be able to run it,” he said.
“Our sport is really growing, and I wouldn’t be surprised if, potentially, it ends up being much more [than 400 boxers]. ”
The River City Boxing Club, 100 Devon Rd, can be reached via whanganuiboxing@gmail.com.
Mike Tweed is a multimedia journalist at the Whanganui Chronicle. Since starting in March 2020, he has dabbled in everything from sport to music. At present his focus is local government, primarily Whanganui District Council.