The release describes the book as “raw, inspiring and unflinchingly honest”.
“This book is more than a boxing story – it’s a testament to resilience, redemption and the fighting spirit of a Mountain Warrior.”
Growing up in the village of Tiniroto, an hour inland from Gisborne, Cameron (Ngāti Rongomaiwahine and Scottish) “felt his small rural community was in the middle of nowhere, but at the same time, in the middle of everywhere”.
He rode his horse to a school of 34 students, owned an award-winning possum and from a very young age was sure he knew what he wanted to be: a shepherd.
He was also resourceful and entrepreneurial – trying to make money collecting fertiliser and pinecones.
He was riding bulls at the age of 8 and if he wasn’t on a horse, he was on a motorbike or playing polocrosse, dubbed the “poor man’s polo”.
Cameron was also a keen pig hunter, hunting in the beautiful Whakapūnake mountains.
Shane Cameron with a line-up of the boxing belts he won in the lead-up to his world title fight against Australian Danny Green. Photo / NZ Herald
At the age of 19 everything changed. When he went on his OE to England, he discovered a passion for boxing.
“My grandfather used to fight in the early 1930s, and I always liked listening to his stories,” Cameron said.
“He was even boxing on the boat when he came over from Scotland at the age of 7. He’d go running up the hills at three in the morning and sparred with no mouthguard, headgear or proper gloves.”
Cameron became No 3 in England in the amateur cruiserweight division after boxing for only 18 months.
He was a dominant force in the Australasian heavyweight division, had a 34-fight history as a professional and fought for a cruiserweight world title against Danny Green.
Known for his explosive power and fearless style, he captured multiple national titles and fought “The Fight of the Century” against David Tua in the biggest boxing match in New Zealand history.
After his fighting career, he changed direction to the business world.
“The real drive behind my business career hasn’t been money – it’s more about proving that boxers, and particularly this boxer, aren’t dumb,“ he said.
“I’ve not had much education. I am dyslexic and struggle with reading and writing, and I have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), which affects my concentration.
“But I know that when I focus, my drive and work ethic mean I can achieve whatever I want to accomplish.”
He fought for a world title and appeared on two reality television shows.
“I became a successful boxing coach and promoter, opened a gym, established my own coaching, training and equipment businesses and became a successful public speaker.
“Not bad for a kid who had basically left school by the age of 11, so, as I tell my audiences, it’s not how you fall, it’s how you rise. Boxing and life taught me hard work, resilience and how to come back from the toughest blows. This is my story.”
Kilgallon was boxing writer at the Sunday-Star Times from 2005-10, covering much of Cameron’s career, and was at many of his fights, including the famous bout with David Tua. He even sparred with him once for a story “and didn’t do very well”.
The book will be released in August.