Rumble In Apia For The WBO Oriental Cruiserweight Title
Mr. Teleiai Su'atapulolo'o Edwin Puni, Managing Director of Event Polynesia this week confirmed receipt of Certification
Letter from World Boxing Organisation Asia Pacific Chairman Mr. Leon Panoncillo.
Mr. Puni in Auckland New Zealand with Mr Danny Leign, Asia Pacific Vice President and Mr. Leon Panoncillo with the WBO
Oriental belt.
In his letter Mr. Panoncillo wrote "Herewith, is the letter to confirm that World Boxing Organization Asia Pacific have
certify that the boxing match on Saturday, February 02, 2008, at Apia, Samoa between Lawrence Tauasa vs. Charles Baou
for the WBO Oriental vacant Cruiserweight title has been officially sanctioned and recognized by the WBO."
According to Mr. Puni, "This is history in the making and the start of great things for Samoa boxing going forward. WBO
is one of the four major organizations including WBA, WBC and IBF which sanction world championship boxing bouts."
Mr. Puni also confirmed that Mr. Lon Panoncillo will be in Samoa for the upcoming fight night.
"Samoa's success in the recent South Pacific Games and the Oceania Tournament 2007 is a welcome sign and comes as no
surprise with Samoa being strong in amateur boxing over many years. Unfortunately, Samoa is not able to capitalize on
this local talent in the transition to international professional boxing," Mr Puni said.
The inaugural Samoa International Pro-Am Boxing is an initiative of Event Polynesia Boxing in association with SPBI and
SABA to provide our Samoan boxers both amateur and professional a pathway forward by setting up the needed top
international competitions right here in Samoa.
Mr. Puni however goes on to say," Unfortunately we are finding it very hard to raise the funds required to bring such
international bouts to Samoa."
Teleiai Su'atapulolo'o credits the determination and commitment of both the Samoa Amateur Boxing Association (SABA) and
the South Pacific Boxing Incorporated (SPBI) in keeping boxing alive in Samoa despite of the lack of financial
resources, especially with professional boxing.
The main under card is also a title fight of twelve rounds by three minutes between the rugged Walter Pupu'a of Tonga up
against Lupematasila Bob Gasio of Samoa for the South Seas Cruiserweight title fight. Other bouts includes the 'Prime
Minister Challenge Cup' between a top New Zealand Amateur Invitation Team verses a top Samoa Amateur Invitational Team.
ATTACHED: Poster - Samoa International Pro-Am Boxing [PDF]
ENDS