New Zealand, Samoa, Fiji and Tahiti Set For Boxing Showdown
Boxing goes to the final round in November with promotions in Tahiti, Fiji and Samoa ahead of the Pacific International
Boxing Championship (PIBC) to start in 2012. The proposed boxing series is equivalent to the Pacific Rugby Cup rivalry
in the region and is deemed as the perfect tournament to further develop the infrastructure of boxing in the Pacific.
Samoa cruiserweight champion Vaitele Soi returns to Auckland next week to fight on the Glozier Promotion; a win will
guarantee Soi a World Boxing Organization (WBO) Asia Pacific title shot against former WBO cruiserweight title holder
Muyoyo Mensah. A late challenge by Samoa's light heavyweight champion Warren Fuiava against WBO Asia Pacific title
holder Soulan Pounceby of New Zealand on the 18th November promotion has been put on hold due to an injured Pounceby.
Promoter Glozier hopes to include the Pounceby vs Fuiava in his March 2012 promotion. Vili's Gym Boxing Promotion in
October in Auckland saw Samoan prospects Vaitele Soi, Warren Fuiava and Faimasasa Tavui winning all their fights by
first round knockout.
Tahiti boxing following the success of its amateur team at the recent Pacific Games in New Caledonia has set its next
goal to conquer professional boxing in the Pacific. Tahiti topped the boxing charts with five gold medals, New Caledonia
with two gold followed by Samoa, Papua Niu Guinea and Nauru with a gold medal each. The Papeete figh night on Friday
25th November will see Tahitian welterweight Jean Louis Arihau and light welterweight Tinitua Neagle against Tony Iapesa
and Michael Fonoti of Samoa. The main event will be headlined by Samoan light heavyweight Faimasasa Tavui in a twelve
round contest for the vacant UBO International title.
Mr. Reginald Leca, UBO Oceania Commissioner and Tahiti matchmaker says, "Fighting the Samoan boxers will be a good test
for our boxers turning professional. Samoa has established a professional boxing development for their boxers after
amateur; it is what we now need for Tahiti and Caledonia."
Fijian light welterweight champ Farzan Ali Junior will be going toe-to-toe with Samoan welterweight champion Oli
Filimaua. Filimaua is going down a division to fight in Nadi on Saturday 25th November. Ali knocked out Samoan Tony
Iapesa in the sixth round of a ten round contest at the Vodafone Arena in Suva in 2009 and continues to be undefeated in
his last seven outings.
According to Filimaua's trainer Leapai Richard Brown, "Filimaua has never lost a fight and we do not intend to lose in
Fiji."
The following Thursday 1st December will feature a Fiji vs Samoa international contest on the Samoa Pro Am Fights card
in Apia. Iosia Nanai takes on Junior Naivogo in the super middle weight division, Warren Fuiava aganist Pita Tabuarua in
the light heavyweight division and the much awaited rematch between Pele Faumui and Abhay Chand in the middleweight
division.
Fiji matchmaker Mr. Ram Paras says, "Chand's only loss since 2009 was to Faumui of Samoa. This will be a great fight.
The opportunity to fight in Samoa will set the bench mark for our boxers going into the Pacific International Boxing
Championship next year."
Samoa boxing promoter Tuilagi Saipele Esera who will be hosting the PIBC meeting in Apia has confirmed the attendance of
the promoters from New Zealand, Fiji and Tahiti. The meeting will include the signing of a MOU between the founding
members New Zealand, Samoa, Fiji and Tahiti.
"First leg of the proposed boxing series will be in New Zealand in March 2012. The other two legs will be in Tahiti and
Fiji with the final leg in Samoa in December each year," according to Tuilagi.
ENDS