War in the Waikato hosts a sell-out crowd

Hamilton venue Altitude was bustling with more than 400 boxing enthusiasts for the War in the Waikato event on Saturday night.

The Hamilton venue hosted a sell-out crowd for the 12-fight bill.

Headline draw card and light middle-weight Cairo George, won his bout against Saili Tofilau to gain the Waikato title.

George’s original opponent Todd Crawford pulled out on event day and the south Auckland fighter was called in as his replacement.

“I felt the fight was hard. My opponent was 5kgs heavier than me. He was very tough and I must take my hat off to him,” said George

The closely contended fight saw the Les Mills trainer take the title by an unanimous decision.

“He took some of my best shots and kept coming. But in the end I cleaned him out on the score cards.

“I felt good winning a hard fight in front of my home town crowd.”

Cairo is grateful for the ongoing support from his friends, family and boxing club; Kaimeke Toa Extreme Boxing.

“Big thanks to all the rest of our guys that fought that night and everybody that helped me prepare for the fight. Especially my dad for getting me ready and running an amazing show.”

Another War in the Waikato is planned around September.

But there is no down time for Cairo who hopes to maintain his momentum with an Auckland fight on the cards for June 29.