Rain Mako
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Rain Mako (born August 26, 1976 in Christchurch, New Zealand) is a former female boxer who currently lives in Melbourne, Australia.
Mako helped popularize women's boxing in Oceania: while boxing is still considered by most to be a male sport, women's boxing has enjoyed a rise in popularity since 1996, and Mako boxed from 2000 to 2001.
Mako's career in boxing spanned over the 2 years of 2000 to 2001,but in that time she provided female boxing with pazzazz and glamour with her amazonian physique and film star looks - a polite gentle individual outside the ring,but a tiger within it.
Mako's boxing opportunities were limited in Australia,and although her last 2 fights were short of the quality of her first 4,her body language suggested she needed bigger name opponents to fight to keep up her spirit and interest. Efforts to coax Leila Ali,the daughter of the famous Muhammad Ali,to fight her anywhere were blocked apparently after Ali viewed some of Mako's fights on video.
Mako has appeared on Tv in Australia on current affairs programs such as "A Current Affair" and "Sixty Minutes" supporting womens' boxing as a healthy fitness pursuit,not a novelty event.
Mako has since entered the fitness industry under the banner of "Team Mako" personal training in Melbourne,Australia,and has been prominent in recent boxing boot camp training sessions with other organisations.
The glamorous Mako has also appeared in swim suit editions of "INSIDE SPORT" and "RALPH" magazines,and was voted in the "Sexiest 20 women in New Zealand" in 2001.
She has recently appeared in newspaper articles and photos in "The Herald-Sun" and "Sunday Herald-Sun" newspapers.
Mako has recently signed a contract with the world wide YMCA organisation to assist with their training programs and her Manager,Stephen J Peak, has also attempted to obtain a contract with the production company attached to Channel 10 TV concerning the fitness show,"THE BIGGEST LOSER".
Boxing Career:
Mako made her professional debut on August 18, 2000, beating Kathy Zutt by a four round decision at Melbourne.
On November 24, she followed that win with her greatest career victory,a first round KO over world champ [[Holly Ferneley],which created headlines.Mako's power on the night was awesome. ANTHONY "THE MAN" MUNDINE,WBC Champ, on another occasion (the first Zutt fight)once described Mako as "having the boxing power of a man".
Mako then boxed Pono Rangi, February 9 of 2001, beating her by a unanimous six round decision.
Mako was defeated by Zutt in the rematch, on March 30. Mako's first defeat came by a fourth round decision that went to the scorecards,due to a cut eye. A second defeat in a row came against New Zealand champ, Sue Glassey on July 6 by an eight round unanimous points decision.
Mako's last fight came against Kathy O'Brienof Canberra, on November 16. O'Brien, who was making her boxing debut, lost a split decision to Mako.
Mako had a record of 4 wins and 2 losses from 6 fights, with 1 KO.
All of Mako's fights took place at Melbourne's Knox Basketball Stadium.
