Whakatāne Fight Club continues to punch well above its weight and after a successful end to 2025, is home to three New Zealand champions.

Steve McMillan, won the NZ Super Middleweight Muaythai title in October by fourth round knockout, Sitiveni Kutalele won the NZ Cruiserweight Muaythai title in December by split decision and Liam Witbrock successfully defended his NZ Welterweight Title in November by split decision, capping off a successful couple of months for the Eastern Bay club.

Kutalele’s title came at the Lights Out New Zealand premiere Muaythai tournament, which featured several outstanding fighters and where he outlasted Auckland’s Vake Tonga. Witbrock’s title defence happened at Mortal Combat Fight Night in Whakatāne.

Coach Carl Cowley is stoked with the performances of all his fighters and the efforts they deliver when it matters.

He said Kutalele’s match was a close-fought affair with both fighters getting in some good blows.

“It was a very hard fight and close fight, as we expected. We won by split decision.”

It takes a lot to win a title, and Cowley said the trio worked hard at staying in the moment when things got tough, which helped.

“I’m proud of how he (Kutalele) kept his composure when things weren’t going his way and how he dug deep when he had to.

“He’d be the first to admit that his performance wasn’t as clinical as we expected it to be, but the experience and exposure was invaluable. This was by far the biggest stage for Muaythai in Australasia.

“As you would have seen on the fight card, Sitiveni’s fight was the first of the three main event fights, with the other two being World Title fights.

“The Brazilian champion won every round to successfully defend her World Title.

“Titus “Big 300” Proctor absolutely dominated the defending World Champion from the UK. This guy had successfully defended his World Title several times, but the undefeated Kiwi fighter systematically broke him down, gave him a standing eight-count in every round, and then stopped him in the fifth and final round.”

Kutalele has been enjoying a much-deserved break, which has included a new addition to his family.

“We’ll resume training at the end of January and concentrate on title defences and other national and international opportunities,”said Cowley.

He said it was an honour to have three New Zealand champions fighting out of his club.

“Being proud is an understatement. This is the first time in my club’s 26-year history that we’ve had three current NZ Muaythai Champions at one time. It’s been a busy last few months.”

Kutalele said he was honoured to be a New Zealand champion.

“I felt super-grateful. It was a hard-fought victory whilst battling a sickness, so I had to dig deep to keep going. God must be on my side because the fight could’ve easily gone either way.”