By Craig Hardie – Mention the name Chauncy Welliver and most people in the know will remember his date with Odlanier Solis on the 11th of October 2008 in Berlin, Germany. Going into that fateful night the man New Zealand affectionately nicknamed “The Fat, dorky, White guy” knew he was on a hiding to nothing, in his mind putting up a good fight and going the distance would be considered a win. So to be stopped in the 9th round, a poor stoppage at that left a bitter taste in the mouth of the proud Spokane, WA local who also calls New Zealand home.. For someone who took pride in never having being stopped that night was a humbling experience, it takes a part of you, like a messy divorce, so it was always going to take some time for Welliver to move on. Boxing is a sport based alot on confidence, take away that confidence and one is like a ancient warrior going into battle without his armour, for Welliver in the weeks and months after the Solis fight he was questioning his armour, doubting himself and wondering if he’d ever lace up the gloves again.
Fast forward 11 months and Chauncy currently based in Auckland, NZ was chief sparring partner for Shane Cameron in his ill fated attempt to claim New Zealand bragging rights and retain his WBO Oriental and Asia-Pacific titles over David Tua. Having felt good sparring Cameron, sharing some very even sessions Welliver once again stepped inside the square ring accepting a challenge from the Former New Zealand Arm Wrestling Champion David Gemmell (26/09/2009) who claimed his strength alone would be enough to beat the “Fat, dorky” one. In just under 1min into the first round he’d find out the hard way that boxing is not solely based round strength something he must have contemplated while laying prone on the canvas. Welliver was back via a 1st round KO and while the level of opposition was not worth mentioning in the same breath as Solis it was a chance to shake some ring rust, and feel comfortable again in front of a crowd. Two weeks later (06/10/2009) Welliver was again in action, after a more experienced opponent pulled out at the last minute he found himself in the ring with another inexperienced albeit game opponent, once again winning via KO in the 1st. The confidence was back, and with the hard work he’d been putting in at the gym with a new strength and conditioning trainer 1996 Olympian Mark Keddel, and tough rounds with Cameron in sparring Welliver was looking refocused an rededicated. So when the opportunity to fight Former New Zealand and OBA Heavyweight Champion Amosa Zinck arouse with a weeks notice Welliver jumped at the chance. Zinck is an experienced veteran who’d never been stopped, and being a former holder of Welliver’s New Zealand title it was going to be the perfect gauge to see where he was at.
The fight took place at the home of Auckland boxing the ABA Stadium (17/10/2009) scheduled over 6x3min rounds Welliver took no time in beating Zinck from pillar to post. It was almost refreshing to see as Welliver moved freely around the ring the shackles from his Solis fight lifted as he dominated the always game Zinck blooding his nose early in the 2nd round, and wobbling him numerous times including a near stoppage in the 5th. It was a complete performance, and showed how the gym work and extra training has paid off. Of course Welliver will never be a chiesled athletic looking heavyweight having weighed 309lbs in May of this year, now a trim 263lbs the weight he has lost shows physically, but more importantly it shows where it counts…………..in the ring! His hand speed is improved and work rate is higher and most importantly the armour is back in tact!
The question is where to from here? Onwards and upwards is the answer, having spoken with Chauncy he insists his aim is to secure another big fight, his motivation is his burning desire to show the world he’s better than the 11th of October 2008 Berlin, Germany showing. What of his fellow New Zealand heavyweight and good friend David Tua? It’s a fight he’d love to take, having always craved a big fight in New Zealand a Tua fight would be the pinnacle. Should the opportunity present itself Welliver will be ready for this time there won’t be any inactivity as he’s scheduled to fight October 29th against TBA, November 7th against Daniel Tai in New Zealand’s favourite grudge match for the New Zealand title and again November 21st against the dangerous TBA. Welliver is quoted as saying “If I cant fight the best fighters, I’ll fight the best they can get me on the day, and often.” In this recent comeback he’s certainly lived up to that, unlike many other fighters heavyweights especially who sit idle for months on end Welliver is happy to fight whoever is dished up on the night, it would certainly be another special night in New Zealand boxing if that next dish served is Tua!