John Conway (born 8 March 1968, New Zealand) is a retired professional boxer and kickboxer. Conway biggest boxing bout of his career was challenging for the WBO Asia Pacific light heavyweight title against Soulan Pownceby in June 2011. Conway has peaked at 11th on the WBO Asia Pacific Rankings. Conway started his boxing career in the amateur in 1986. If you combine his amateur, professional boxing and kickboxing fight, Conway has had 182 fights. Currently Conway is the president of the

New Zealand Professional Boxing Association New Zealand Professional Boxing Association (NZPBA) is one of the four Sport governing body, governing bodies for the sport of professional boxing in New Zealand. NZPBA is a non-profit organisation. History The body was founded as South Pacific B ...

and has refereed in over 100 boxing bouts. Conway has refereed and judged in many notable boxers including Chauncy Welliver,

Michelle Preston Michelle Preston (born 11 November 1978 in Manchester, United Kingdom) is a Muay Thai Fighter and professional boxer. Preston resides in Auckland, New Zealand, where she has fought most of her professional fights. Preston has held many titles in ...

Daniella Smith Daniella Smith (born 30 July 1972, in Kaikohe, New Zealand) is a New Zealand former professional boxer. She became the first female fighter to win an IBF title, having held the welterweight version from 2010 to 2011, and is the third New Zeala ...

Gunnar Jackson Gunnar Jackson (born 6 July 1986) is a New Zealand professional boxer. At regional level he held the NZPBA super middleweight title from 2012 to 2013; the NZPBA middleweight title in 2013; and the WBO Oriental middleweight title twice between 201 ...

, Robert Berridge,

Shane Cameron Shane Aaron Cameron (born 17 October 1977) is a New Zealand professional boxer. He is a former Commonwealth cruiserweight champion, having also held several regional titles at heavyweight. As an amateur he won a bronze medal in the heavyweight ...

Jeff Horn Jeffrey Christopher Horn Jr. (born 4 February 1988) is an Australian former professional boxer who competed from 2013 to 2020. He held the WBO welterweight title from 2017 to 2018. As an amateur, he represented Australia at the 2012 Olympics, ...

, Izuagbe Ugonoh,

Kali Meehan Kalivati Gerald Meehan (born 9 March 1970) is an Australian professional boxer of Fijian descent. He turned pro after a career in rugby league. His son Willis Meehan plays rugby league and boxes. Amateur career Before becoming professional, ...

Brian Minto Brian Matthew Minto (born January 27, 1975) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 2002 to 2016. He challenged once for the WBO cruiserweight title in 2010. Professional career Minto turned pro in 2002 and won his first 18 ...

, and

Joseph Parker Joseph Dennis Parker, (born 9 January 1992) is a New Zealand professional boxer. He has held the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Interim championship, interim heavyweight title since 2024. Previously, he held the WBO heavyweight title from 2016 ...

. Outside being an official, Conway owns his own gym called Rebel Lee Gar and trains many successful boxers and kickboxers including Adrian Taihia, Baby Nansen, Lani Daniels, Richie Hardcore and David Letele.

NZPBA president

In July 2016, Conway became vice President of NZPBA. In February 2017,

Lance Revill Lance Revill (born 30 August 1953) is the former president of the New Zealand Professional Boxing Association ( NZPBA), a New Zealand boxing promoter, referee, and a former New Zealand professional boxer. Revill compiled a professional record of ...

resigned as president of NZPBA due to the backlash of the comments made against World Champion Joseph Parker. Due to this, Conway was promoted to Interim President of NZPBA.

Lani Daniels World Champion

Conway is the trainer and manager of two division world champion Lani Daniels. When setting up Daniels first world title fight, Conway was in negotiations with opponent Alrie Meleisea manager Vasco Kovačević since Christmas day 2022. In May 2023, Daniels won her IBF world heavyweight title. Daniels originally planned to retire after her world title win, however, after her win, Conway began negotiations with multiple promoters to sign Daniels full time. On the 18th of July it was announced that Daniels had signed a three fight deal with boxing promoter

Dean Lonergan Dean Robert Lonergan is a former New Zealand boxing promoter and rugby league player. With Duco founder David Higgins (event promoter), David Higgins, Lonergan had success promoting world champion boxers Joseph Parker and Jeff Horn. With hi ...

under D & L Promotions.

Fighting titles and awards

Kickboxing and Muay Thai titles

*NZ amateur welterweight kickboxing champion (1991) *NZ thaiboxing professional welterweight champion (1992–2000) *South Pacific welterweight champion (1995) *Hong Kong World welterweight champion (1995)

Awards

*Balmoral Lee Gar Thai Boxing Most Determined Professional Fighter (1994–1995)

Professional boxing record

Awards and recognitions

*2019 Gladrap Boxing Awards Trainer of the year (Nominated) *2019 Gladrap Boxing Awards Referee of the year (Nominated) *2021 New Zealand Boxing Awards Referee of the year (Won) *2022 New Zealand Boxing Awards Referee of the year (Won)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Conway, John 1968 births Living people Boxers from Auckland New Zealand male boxers Light-heavyweight boxers Fighters trained by Lolo Heimuli 20th-century New Zealand sportsmen