La’auli Montgomery Junior "Monty" Betham (born 12 March 1978) is a professional boxer, and former professional rugby league footballer. A New Zealand international representative hooker and lock, he played club football for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League, and for the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats (captain) (Heritage № 1234) in the Super League.
Betham was born in Auckland, New Zealand on 12 March 1978. His father, Samoan-born Monty Betham Sr., had 53 professional fights as a middleweight or light heavyweight from 1973-1982.
Betham was a Bay Roskill Vikings junior, he was selected to play for Samoa at the 2000 World Cup. Betham went on to change his international allegiance and represent New Zealand in eight tests His position of choice was at lock but he also played at hooker and second-row. On the field Betham was known for his aggressive style of play. He was once voted the player that the opposition players least want to pick a fight with in an NRL players' poll.
Betham missed New Zealand's first ever finals appearance during the 2001 NRL season and the 2002 NRL Grand Final due to injury. Betham's final game for the club was a 22-20 victory over Manly at Brookvale Oval in round 25 of the 2005 NRL season. Betham spent one year in England with Wakefield Trinity during the 2006 Super League season.
In December 2006, Betham announced his retirement from rugby league in order to pursue a career in boxing. Betham will start out in the cruiserweight division and hopes to work his way down to light heavyweight.
His first fight took place in Samoa on 31 March 2007. He defeated 15 fight veteran Vai Toevai in the sixth round.
In 2013, an episode of The X Factor (New Zealand series 1) was filmed at Boxing Alley gym featuring Monty Betham and contestant Whenua Patuwai.
Betham was runner-up on Season 4 of New Zealand Dancing With The Stars in 2008. Betham is trained by Danny Codling and managed by Mick Watson. In 2007 Betham competed in New Zealand reality show Treasure Island
irates of the Pacific. In March 2008 he competed on New Zealand Celebrity Joker Poker, he made it to the final three on the final episode before being eliminated (Shortland Street actor Craig Parker was the overall winner).In December 2007 it was announced that Betham would compete in season 4 of Dancing with the Stars which started in February 2008. On January 28, 2008 it was revealed on The Edge (radio station) that Betham's professional dance partner would be Nerida Jantti (girlfriend of Shane Cortese). On April 15, 2008 he was named runner-up (Temepara George being the overall winner).
Monty Betham - Wikipedia
Former Auckland lock, captain of the Junior Kiwis, represented Samoa in the 2000 World Cup competition before shifting to hooker in 2001. Betham, the son of the NZ boxing champion of the same name, represented NZ against France and Australia (as a lock) during the historic 2001 season in which the Warriors qualified for the semi-finals. Although injury interrupted his 2002 season and ruled him out of the Warriors’ historic grand final appearance against the Roosters, Betham played in four Tests on the Kiwi Tour of Great Britain and France at the end of the year. Despite the club’s fortunes sliding drastically during 2003-04, Betham continued his Test career with an appearance off the interchange bench in the 48-6 loss to Australia in July 2003 but injury again ruled him out of Test contention the following year. He joined Wakefield Trinity in the English Super League in 2006.
- ALAN WHITICKER
Monty Betham - Playing Career - RLP
A summary of the career stats for Former Auckland lock, captain of the Junior Kiwis, represented Samoa in the 2000 World Cup competition before shifting to hooker in 2001. Betham, the son of the NZ boxing champion of the same name, represented NZ against France and Australia (as a lock) during...
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