James...your right. I don't how that workout also. Mark started his kick boxing career here in New Zealand under a friend of mine call Sam Marster. He than moved to Australia about 6 - 7 yrs ago and trained with my cousin Alex Tui. He is now trained under another friend of mine call Hape Ngaronoa (Kiwi)From what I heard, whenever Mark used to fight over in Aussie, promoters always promoted him as New Zealander (and not an Aussie). When he fought in Japan, they put him down as from New Zealand. I guess they asked Mark who does he wants to represent, he chose to be a Kiwi. You see, Mark was the type of fighter who used to take fights at short noticed just to keep promoters happy and lots of promoters used him as a stepping stones to some of their up and coming fighters. Most of the time, only Mark's camp knew his abilities. He had his fair share of losing and winning, and have upset win over some top Aussie fighters. It wasn't until Tarik Solak's promoted the K-1 Oceania tournament which helped exposed Mark (or the other fighters LOL!). Without the tournament system, Mark would have never make it as other heavies with their promoters and their local support would have still be dodging him, and keep bringing overseas fighters for their boys. Anyway, I probably lose a couple of Aussie promoter friends here, but it's a fact. He reminded me of Alex Tui. He had to do the hard yard to get there.

Mark probably feels that he hasn't been given a fair go as most people look at him as just another Kiwi bludging on the Australian riches, rather than promote him as an Australian. His Aussie friends accepted Mark as an Aussie and Mark has no problem with that, but deep down, he feels he is a Kiwi. After he won the K-1 in Japan, the first thing Mark did was came back home here in Auckland and bought his mum a new house. His heart is at the right place and I do believe that you haven't seen the best of him yet.