Earl Nikora (left) fights Tony Vickers, the then Australian heavyweight champion, in a bout that ended with a knockout for Vickers in the eighth round. Earl Nikora: Greatest of Maori Boxers by Kelly Hakopa earl nikora's fight last November with Gomeo Brennan for the British Empire middleweight title was the culmination of years of hard training, and the fulfilment of a lifelong ambition. Though he lost the bout on points he put up a magnificent performance, showing all of the rugged fighting qualities that he was inherited from his famous ancestor, Rewi Maniapoto. The greatest of all Maori boxers, Earl is the holder of three boxing titles: the New Zealand middle and light-heavyweight boxing crowns, and the Australasian middleweight title. This is a really amazing record, especially when one considers the many obstacles—in particular the limited training facilities—that he has to contend with. Earl Parariki Hauparoa Nikora, alias ‘The Rock’, was born on 14 January 1940. He is the son of Horima Nikora and Tauariki Ormsby, and is a member of the Kaputahi and Paritekawa subtribes on the Mainapoto and Tainui tribes. He is one of a family of 11 brothers and three sisters. Earl is married to Elsie Collier of the Ngati Porou tribe, and they have four small daughters.

Other Boxers in The Family There have been boxers in the family previously, for his father Horima and his uncles, Brownie Nikora and Puku and Henry Wikio, were all notable amateur boxers in their time. Earl's boxing career began at the age of 13,