17/08/2026
🥊💚 THE JOEL HILL MEMORIAL BELT 💚🥊
Something very special will be making its debut in Timaru this weekend — 22 August.
Following Joel’s passing, we wanted to create something that would not only honour the boxer he was, but also the person and the impact he had on our boxing communities.
Joel proudly represented both Timaru and Canterbury, winning New Zealand titles along the way. He was an incredible athlete, a tough competitor and someone who gave so much to boxing. We miss him deeply and, like many of us, wish he could have continued on to see where boxing and life could have taken him.
The Joel Hill Memorial Challenge Belt has been created in collaboration between Timaru Boxing, Canterbury Boxing and the Hill family, with the cost shared equally between the three.
The belt itself was brought to life through Canterbury Boxing, Woolston Boxing and the Hill family, with the design created specifically to honour Joel, his boxing achievements and his legacy. 💚🥊
The belt has now been blessed and will be put on the line for the first time this weekend.
The concept is simple:
🏆 Whenever a Timaru vs Canterbury bout takes place, the Joel Hill Memorial Belt can be contested.
🏆 The winning athlete’s club will hold the belt until the next eligible Timaru vs Canterbury matchup.
🏆 Wherever possible, different athletes will be given the opportunity to compete for it over time.
But this belt is about much more than winning.
We wanted the belt to carry a message alongside his name — a reminder that life is worth living, people matter, and it’s okay to talk, ask for help and check in on the people around us.
The green ribbon incorporated into the belt represents mental health awareness and the importance of keeping those conversations going within our boxing community.
We remember Joel.
We honour Joel.
We carry his legacy forward. 💚
This weekend, two athletes will step through the ropes to fight for something that will forever carry Joel’s name.
We hope this belt becomes a lasting part of the Timaru and Canterbury boxing rivalry — and an even more lasting reminder of a young man who should still be here with us today.
Miss you, Joel. 💚🥊
Forever in our corners.