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RNZ News
3 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
Backyard battles take fighting off street, participant says
Hamilton man Cameron Harcourt (left), with an opponent at the King of the Street event on 24 May. Photo: Supplied A participant in a controversial street fighting competition is defending it, saying amateur tournaments remove violence from the streets. An unregulated tournament promoted by New Zealand mixed martial arts fighter Dan Hooker was held in a suburban Auckland backyard on Saturday 24 May , with 32 combatants competing for a $50,000 prize. Hooker said the only major injury was to a fighter's arm and signalled plans to host further events , despite criticism. New Zealand Boxing Coaches Association president Billy Meehan described the event as "thuggery, not sport", but Hamilton fighter Cameron Harcourt, who travelled up for the event, said the backlash was unfair. "We're going to fight anyway," he said. "There's fights on the streets. "The same way Streetbeefs in America started to get the fights off the streets. If you had beef, you apply for this and you jump in, and it gives us a place to do it in a controlled environment. "The thuggery is taken out and we've turned it into a sport." Streetbeefs is an unregulated American backyard fighting club and You Tube channel, hosting different combat codes. The founders said it was established as a response to more "dangerous forms of street and gun violence". Cameron Harcourt (right) says the Auckland backyard fighting event took violence off the street and put it in a controlled environment. Photo: Supplied Police are investigating one fighter from the Saturday event, who was seen wearing an electronic monitoring bracelet in social media footage of his fight. Harcourt said he wanted to prove that the fights were a fair playing field, and not all about "tattoos and gang affiliations". "Nothing changes what someone is - we're all humans. Doesn't matter about your colour, your size, your age, your background, we're all people and we all bleed. "I think it is a good sport and I love fighting for that." Up to nine different gangs were reportedly represented at the tournament. Fighters had to sign a waiver before taking part, stipulating that involvement was at their discretion. He said, unlike team sports like rugby, he enjoyed how he was the only person accountable, if the fight did not go his way. "You're stuck in a ring with contact and you just feel alive, and it's just sick," he said. "It's also art. "You can create your combos and perform them. It's just a wicked sport." Although billed as an amateur event, it is understood a professional fighter won the tournament. Harcourt hoped to contest a planned tournament in Christchurch later this year. The Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) suggests participants of amateur street fighting events will be covered under the scheme, as it did not require details of how injuries occur. An agency spokesperson said the scheme operated on a no-fault basis. "All New Zealanders pay levies in different ways. The money we collect goes into one of our five accounts. "We use each account to cover specific types of injuries. For example, if someone is injured playing sports, the money used to support their recovery is dependent on their individual circumstances." Last year, the cost of active ACC claims for sport and recreation injuries exceeded $1 billion, while accidental injuries in the home and community, which covered injuries from assaults and also concussion, cost more than $2.3 billion. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Economic Times
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Economic Times
Fight Club, Dan Hooker's $50K MMA event sparks police heat, online bets, and bloodsport frenzy
TIL Creatives Auckland braces for chaos as Dan 'Hangman' Hooker's $50,000 underground fight sparks police warnings and public outrage A controversial underground fighting event in Auckland has drawn sharp criticism from boxing authorities and prompted police scrutiny over safety and legality concerns. Police are trying to speak with the organisers of an amateur fighting competition expected to take place in Auckland on Saturday(May 24). The event, dubbed "King of the Streets," is promoted by New Zealand mixed martial arts fighter Dan "Hangman" Hooker. Scheduled for Saturday, it features 32 amateur fighters competing in one-minute bouts without weight divisions, wearing 4-ounce MMA gloves, for a winner-takes-all prize of $50,000. Police have expressed concerns about the event's compliance with legal requirements. A spokesperson stated, "Police will look at any options available to us should an event proceed that has the potential to put public safety at risk or that would be operating in breach of any law.""It's worth reminding people that organising events comes with certain responsibilities and requirements under law. These requirements are in place for good reason," police added. The New Zealand Boxing Coaches Association has condemned the tournament. President Billy Meehan described it as "straight-out thuggery," highlighting the lack of medical oversight, absence of weight classes, and the use of MMA gloves as significant safety concerns. He warned, "We're going to see somebody get seriously hurt, if not killed." The event is also reportedly linked to an online gambling platform called "TheDoctor." Promotions have included unconventional tactics, such as a treasure hunt for tickets involving a metal plate from Hooker's previously broken arm, which contained the event's location details. Hooker and fellow UFC fighter Israel Adesanya have actively promoted the event despite the backlash. Adesanya encouraged attendance, saying, "Bring the family, bring the whānau, bring everyone, come watch, you'll get knocked out or knock someone the f--- out."
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Fight Club, Dan Hooker's $50K MMA event sparks police heat, online bets, and bloodsport frenzy
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel A controversial underground fighting event in Auckland has drawn sharp criticism from boxing authorities and prompted police scrutiny over safety and legality concerns. Police are trying to speak with the organisers of an amateur fighting competition expected to take place in Auckland on Saturday(May 24).The event, dubbed "King of the Streets," is promoted by New Zealand mixed martial arts fighter Dan "Hangman" Hooker. Scheduled for Saturday, it features 32 amateur fighters competing in one-minute bouts without weight divisions, wearing 4-ounce MMA gloves, for a winner-takes-all prize of $50,000. Police have expressed concerns about the event's compliance with legal requirements. A spokesperson stated, "Police will look at any options available to us should an event proceed that has the potential to put public safety at risk or that would be operating in breach of any law.""It's worth reminding people that organising events comes with certain responsibilities and requirements under law. These requirements are in place for good reason," police New Zealand Boxing Coaches Association has condemned the tournament. President Billy Meehan described it as "straight-out thuggery," highlighting the lack of medical oversight, absence of weight classes, and the use of MMA gloves as significant safety concerns. He warned, "We're going to see somebody get seriously hurt, if not killed." The event is also reportedly linked to an online gambling platform called "TheDoctor." Promotions have included unconventional tactics, such as a treasure hunt for tickets involving a metal plate from Hooker's previously broken arm, which contained the event's location details. Hooker and fellow UFC fighter Israel Adesanya have actively promoted the event despite the backlash. Adesanya encouraged attendance, saying, "Bring the family, bring the whānau, bring everyone, come watch, you'll get knocked out or knock someone the f--- out."
