Introduction
Sam Rapira (born 2 November 1983) is a New Zealand boxing promoter and professional boxer.
Rapira had a very well credentialed amateur career, fighting 70 fights before turning pro. Rapira was his own promoter, promoting every fight he has had in New Plymouth.
Charity
Rapira, his brother Jake and their co-owned boxing gym do regular charity work for the community and SPCA. There biggest contribution is organizing food banks for the winter months and Christmas Season. They donate to the community including the food banks on average a hundred times a month.
Personal life
Born in, New Plymouth, New Zealand, Rapira is the cousin of New Zealand rugby league international, Sam Rapira.
Amateur career
Rapira has fought in seventy amateur boxing bouts, fighting local stars like Reece Papuni and Gunnar Jackson, Australian Damien Hooper, and German Champion, Enrice Koelling. Rapira biggest win was at the 2011 Arafura Games where he won the silver medal in the 81 kg division. The biggest upset of the tournament was when Rapira defeated world ranked number one at the time Vijender Singh. Sam Rapira was the captain of the New Zealand Boxing team, which went on to win five Golds and three Silvers.
Championships
- New Zealand National Boxing Federation
- NZNBF Light Heavyweight Champion
- International Boxing Organization
- IBO Asia Pacific Light Heavyweight Champion
- "Patient Sam Rapira claims New Zealand belt". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 2015-10-14.
- "Rapira Boxing Events". Rapira Boxing. Retrieved 2015-10-14.
Professional boxing record
| Professional record summary | ||
| 18 fights | 15 wins | 3 losses |
| By knockout | 10 | 1 |
| By decision | 5 | 2 |
| Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15–3 |  Ryan Ford | N/A | N/A | February 17, 2017 |  Foochow Building, Singapore | For Vacant UBO Light Heavyweight Title | |
| Lose | 15–3 |  Robert Berridge | UD | 8 | September 16, 2016 | TSB Stadium, New Plymouth, New Zealand | |
| Win | 15–2 | Craig Turner | TKO | 4 (6) | June 30, 2016 | Standfords Event Centre, Opunake, New Zealand | |
| Win | 14–2 |  Togasilimai Letoa | UD | 8 | April 2, 2016 | TSB Stadium, New Plymouth, New Zealand | |
| Win | 13–2 | Vaimoli Ioelu | UD | 4 | February 25, 2016 | ABA Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand | |
| Win | 12–2 | Sivan Hermez | TKO | 4 (6) | December 12, 2015 | The Hub, Hawera New Zealand | |
| Loss | 11–2 |  Rob Powdrill | SD | 10 | August 22, 2015 | TSB Stadium, New Plymouth, New Zealand | For Vacant IBO Intercontinental Light Heavyweight Title |
| Win | 11–1 | Sam Loli | UD | 6 | June 26, 2015 | Standfords Event Centre, Opunake, New Zealand | |
| Win | 10–1 | Dean Purdon | KO | 3 (10) 2:46 | April 18, 2015 | TSB Stadium, New Plymouth, New Zealand | Won Vacant IBO Asia Pacific Light Heavyweight Title |
| Win | 9–1 |  Edwin Samy | SD | 6 | February 7, 2015 | War Memorial Hall, Waitara, New Zealand | |
| Loss | 8–1 | Reece Papuni | TKO | 4 (10) | October 16, 2014 | The Trusts Arena, Auckland, New Zealand | Lost NZNBF Light Heavyweight Title |
| Win | 8–0 |  Richard Hackney | KO | 5 (10) | September 12, 2014 | TSB Stadium, New Plymouth, New Zealand | Won Vacant NZNBF Light Heavyweight Title |
| Win | 7–0 | Taito Ratuere | UD | 6 | June 4, 2014 | The Trusts Arena, Auckland, New Zealand | |
| Win | 6–0 |  Kashif Mumtaz | TKO | 2 (6) 2:43 | February 14, 2014 | TSB Stadium, New Plymouth, New Zealand | |
| Win | 5–0 | Moses Ioelu | KO | 4 (6) | December 13, 2013 | YMCA Gymnasium, New Plymouth, New Zealand | |
| Win | 4–0 | Isaia Maku Jnr | TKO | 1 (6) 2:21 | November 16, 2013 | Claudelands Arena, Hamilton, New Zealand | |
| Win | 3–0 | Atalili Fai | TKO | 3 (4) | October 10, 2013 | The Trusts Arena, Auckland, New Zealand | |
| Win | 2–0 | Viliami Toafi | TKO | 1 (4) 2:09 | June 13, 2013 | The Trusts Arena, Auckland, New Zealand | |
| Win | 1–0 |  Scott Taliauli | TKO | 3 (4) 0:35 | April 6, 2013 | TSB Stadium, New Plymouth, New Zealand |
Promoted events record
| Promoted 8 Fight nights | |||||||
| Date. | Location | Featured Bout | Title | Role | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-09-16 | TSB Stadium, New Plymouth, New Zealand | Sam Rapira vs Robert Berridge | Promoter | ||||
| 2016-04-02 | TSB Stadium, New Plymouth, New Zealand | Sam Rapira vs Togasilimai Letoa | Promoter | ||||
| 2015-08-22 | TSB Stadium, New Plymouth, New Zealand | Sam Rapira vs Rob Powdrill | Vacant IBO Inter-Continental light heavyweight title | Promoter | |||
| 2015-04-18 | TSB Stadium, New Plymouth, New Zealand | Sam Rapira vs Dean Purdon | Vacant IBO Asia Pacific Light Heavyweight Title | Promoter | |||
| 2014-09-12 | TSB Stadium, New Plymouth, New Zealand | Sam Rapira vs Richard Hackney | Vacant NZNBF Light Heavyweight Title | Promoter | |||
| 2014-02-14 | TSB Stadium, New Plymouth, New Zealand |  Chauncy Welliver vs Billy Wright | WBC Latino, WBC FECARBOX, WBC Asian Boxing Council heavyweight titles | Promoter | |||
| 2013-12-13 | YMCA Gymnasium, New Plymouth, New Zealand | Sam Rapira vs Moses Ioelu | Promoter | ||||
| 2013-04-06 | TSB Stadium, New Plymouth, New Zealand | Sam Rapira vs Scott Taliauli | Promoter | ||||