Monty Betham

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Monty Betham bigraphy, stories - New Zealand rugby league player

Monty Betham : biography

12 March 1978 –

Monty Betham (born 12 March 1978 in Auckland, New Zealand) is a professional boxer and former rugby league footballer and junior world karate champion. A New Zealand international representative forward, he played club football for the New Zealand Warriors of the National Rugby League and for the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats of Super League.

Betham was runner-up on Season 4 of NZ Dancing With The Stars in 2008.

Reality TV

In 2007 Monty competed in New Zealand reality show Treasure Island:Pirates 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).

Dancing With The Stars (New Zealand, Season 4)

In December 2007 it was announced that Monty will compete in season 4 of Dancing With The Stars which starts in February 2008. On January 28, 2008 it was revealed on The Edge (radio station) that Monty’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).

Filmography

  • Treasure Island:Pirates of the Pacific (2007)
  • Dancing With The Stars (Season 4, 2008)
  • Celebrity Joker Poker (March 16 and March 30, 2008)

Rugby league career

Betham was a Bay Roskill Vikings junior and represented New Zealand in eight tests and also played for Samoa at the 2000 World Cup. aucklandleague.co.nz His position of choice was at Loose forward/Lock but he also played at hooker. 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 during a nrl players poll.

The Shopping Channel

In October 2012 Monty became one of the inaugural TV presenters on The Shopping Channel (New Zealand), New Zealand’s first and only home shopping channel. The New Zealand Herald 2012-07-01

Personal life

After returning home from competing on Treasure Island, Monty and his wife Jaymie celebrated the birth of their first child, a son. Monty’s wife is currently expecting their second child.

Boxing career

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.

Betham’s father, also called Monty, had 53 professional fights as a middleweight or light heavyweight from 1973-1982.

Betham is trained by Danny Codling and managed by Mick Watson.

His first fight took place in Samoa on the 31 March 2007. He defeated 15 fight veteran Vai Toevai in the sixth round.

Career highlights

  • Junior Club: Papatoetoe & Bay Roskill
  • First Grade Début: Round 1, Auckland v Sydney City at Aussie Stadium, March 8, 1999
  • Career Stats: 101 career games to date scoring 10 tries
  • Professional Boxing Début: On 31 March 2006 Monty Defeated Vai Toevai By KO In The Sixth Round Of Their Bout In Apia, Samoa.
  • Boxing Career Record – 5-0-0