Hirepool Clash for Construction is a charity boxing event for ‘Tradies’ to step in the ring and raise funds for Mates in Construction to help them keep fighting the good fight around suicide prevention in the construction industry. This event is brought to you by the team at Heavy Hitters Charitable Trust who are volunteers so all proceeds from the event go to Mates in Construction. Last year the Auckland event raised over $70,000 and this year we are running 3 events in Auckland, Wellington & Christchurch.
Are you up for the Challenge?
All fitness levels are welcome and no fight experience is necessary as full training is provided. Competitor safety is the number one goal and all matchups are done to ensure everyone gets to go home safely. You’ll take part in an intensive 13-week training program (3 days a week) to get you ready for a 3 x 2 minute fight on fight night.
During the training period, you’ll be pushed hard in sessions covering fitness and stamina, theory and practical boxing coaching. You’ll be introduced to sparring and full-contact boxing, building up from light contact to ready to step into the ring.
About 4-5 weeks out from fight night the final matchups will be announced, the coaches of the respective teams will decide who will be matched with who to ensure a fair fight based on several factors including readiness, fitness and attendance - so turning up is key! Not everyone gets to fight - we can’t stress this enough!
Event Dates
Auckland – Saturday 28 September at Barfoot and Thompson Stadium
Christchurch – Saturday 12 October at the Mainpower Stadium
Wellington – Saturday 26 October at the Kilbirne Indian Hall
Training Locations & Times
Auckland: Training program commences 1 July (registrations close 27 June)
Glozier Boxing (Bruce Glozier) - Manukau
Tuesday and Thursday 5:30-6:30 am & Saturday 8:00-9:00 am
Redline Combat Academy (Vasco Kovacevic) - North Shore
Monday, Wednesday 5:30-6:30 am & Friday 5:30-6:30 pm
Christchurch: Training program commences 15 July (registrations close 11 July)
Round 12 Boxing (Bryan Barry) – Phillipstown
Tuesday and Thursday 6:30-7:30 pm & Sunday 9:30-10:30 am
South Island Lee Gar (Wayne Vaega) – Sydenham
Monday, Wednesday & Friday 6:00-7:00 am
Wellington: Training program commences 29 July (registrations close 25 July)
MTI Wellington (Mark Hampton) – Te Aro
Tuesday and Thursday 6:00-7:30 am and Saturday 8:00-9:00 am
Rykers Boxing (Mathew Legge) - Lower Hutt
Monday, Wednesday & Friday 6:00-7:30 pm
FAQ's
Like any sporting event, there are a number of costs you can expect as outlined below
Registration fee - $200 - to cover costs for 13 week training program at the gym, association registration and doctors fees
Training gloves - $50-100 – you’ll fight in 16oz gloves (or 18oz if you are over 90kgs) so you need to train with minimum of 16oz
Headgear - $100 approx – compulsory, you will not be permitted to spar without headgear
Mouthguard - $30 approx - compulsory, you will not be permitted to spar without a mouthguard
Hand wraps - $15 approx – for training and fight night
Protective box (men)/Chest protector (women) – $30-60 – compulsory for fight night
Blood tests - $120 – compulsory before sparing starts in week 3-4
This event is aimed at the construction industry as it supports those who support us. If you are passionate about mental health but not in construction, make a note in “any further comments” section of the application form, tell us why you want to take part and we will consider these on a case-by-case basis.
By signing up, you accept that you are getting involved in a full-contact sport, which will include hitting people (in a controlled environment) and getting hit by people. If you don’t want to fight at the end and are just here for the training, this is not the event for you. Places are limited so just coming along for the fitness is taking the space of someone who wants to actually fight after the fight camp.
Absolutely not, in fact we prefer taking the most unlikely people on the journey from fat to fit. That is after all part of the reason we are here, that and raising funds for a much-needed cause.
Yes, there is. To be considered, you need to be over 18 and under 50 on fight night. There are no exceptions to this rule.
No, unfortunately not. You are welcome to request a preference of gym and we’ll endeavour to place you where we can, but we need to ensure a balance of weight, height, gender and experience between the teams. In most cases over the last few years, people have been allocated to their preference but that just depends on those signing up.
No, unfortunately not. To be considered for this you need to train with our coaches. They will know if and when you are ready to get into the ring. Safety is one of our primary concerns and you won’t be given a fight if the coach doesn’t think you can safely compete.
No, unfortunately not. Signing up gets you into the training program but it takes more than just signing up to get you into the ring. Final selections will be made about 4-5 weeks out when everyone has had the chance to learn to box and get to a suitable level of fitness. Several factors influence you getting a fight such as your level of fitness and being able to match you with a suitable opponent. You could be the best novice boxer we’ve ever seen, but if you’re the only 100kg person left at the end then it’s not fair to match you with someone at 90kg.
If you fought in last year's Auckland event we will consider your application but will give preference to first-timers.