John Conway (born 8 March 1968, New Zealand) is a retired professional boxer and kickboxer. Conway biggest boxing bout of his career was challenging for the WBO Asia Pacific light heavyweight title against
Soulan Pownceby
Soulan James Pownceby (née Soulan James Rikihana, born 4 May 1975 in Christchurch) is a New Zealand boxer who was described by TVNZ in 2004 as one of New Zealand's most exciting talents since David Tua. He is also notable for convictions for as ...
in June 2011. Conway has peaked at 11th on the WBO Asia Pacific Rankings. Conway started his boxing career in the amateur in 1986. If you combine his amateur, professional boxing and kickboxing fight, Conway has had 182 fights.
Currently Conway is the president of the
New Zealand Professional Boxing Association
New Zealand Professional Boxing Association (NZPBA) is one of the four governing bodies for the sport of professional boxing in New Zealand. NZPBA is a non-profit organisation.
History
The Body was founded as South Pacific Boxing Association, wi ...
and has refereed in over 100 boxing bouts. Conway has refereed and judged in many notable boxers including
Chauncy Welliver,
Michelle Preston
Michelle Preston (born 11 November 1978 in Manchester, United Kingdom) is a Muay Thai Fighter and professional boxer. Preston resides in Auckland, New Zealand, where she has fought most of her professional fights. Preston has held many titles in ...
,
Daniella Smith,
Gunnar Jackson,
Robert Berridge
Robert Berridge (born 22 November 1984) is a retired New Zealand professional light heavyweight boxer.
Berridge is a boxer who has had over thirty fights, five boxing titles and has peaked at ninth on the World Boxing Organization and twelfth ...
,
Shane Cameron
Shane Aaron Cameron (born 17 October 1977) is a New Zealand professional boxer. He is a former Commonwealth cruiserweight champion, having also held several regional titles at heavyweight. As an amateur he won a bronze medal in the heavywei ...
,
Jeff Horn,
Izuagbe Ugonoh
Izuagbe Ugonoh (born 2 November 1986) is a Polish mixed martial artist and former professional boxer and kickboxer. He is a graduate of the Jędrzej Śniadecki University School of Physical Education and Sport in Gdańsk.
Early life
Izuagbe w ...
,
Kali Meehan,
Brian Minto
Brian Matthew Minto (born January 27, 1975) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 2002 to 2016. He challenged once for the WBO cruiserweight title in 2010.
Professional career
Minto turned pro in 2002 and won his first 8 ...
, and
Joseph Parker.
Outside being an official, Conway owns his own gym called Rebel Lee Gar and trains many successful boxers and kickboxers including
Adrian Taihia,
Baby Nansen
Birthony Katarina Nansen (born 11 January 1987), better known as Baby Nansen, is a New Zealand professional boxer and kickboxer. Nansen's biggest fight of her career was against Melissa St. Vil for the vacant WBC Silver female super featherweig ...
,
Lani Daniels, Richie Hardcore and
David Letele.
NZPBA president
In July 2016, Conway became vice President of NZPBA. In February 2017,
Lance Revill resigned as president of NZPBA due to the backlash of the comments made against World Champion Joseph Parker. Due to this, Conway was promoted to Interim President of NZPBA.
Fighting titles and awards
Kickboxing and Muay Thai titles
*NZ amateur welterweight kickboxing champion (1991)
*NZ thaiboxing professional welterweight champion (1992–2000)
*South Pacific welterweight champion (1995)
*Hong Kong World welterweight champion (1995)
Awards
*Balmoral Lee Gar Thai Boxing Most Determined Professional Fighter (1994–1995)
Professional boxing record
Awards and recognitions
*2019 Gladrap Boxing Awards Trainer of the year (Nominated)
*2019 Gladrap Boxing Awards Referee of the year (Nominated)
*2021 New Zealand Boxing Awards Referee of the year (Won)
*2022 New Zealand Boxing Awards Referee of the year (Won)
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Conway, John
1968 births
Living people
Boxers from Auckland
New Zealand male boxers
Light-heavyweight boxers
Fighters trained by Lolo Heimuli