Cut Mess, Fix Boxing
If the BCF directors can’t address these basic issues, they must give way to other capable people to come in and run the show
Let’s cut the rubbish and face the fact that last Saturday’s boxing promotion at Prince Charles Park in Nadi was a total disaster.
All explanations done by the Boxing Commission Fiji directors for the past few days will not change a thing.
Boxing fans, who paid their $40, $25 or $15 tickets, to watch the only title fight (from the two that was advertised) that took place being called off due to a slippery canvas would now think twice of going to watch the next boxing promotion.
That’s the reality of the damage that has been done.
Even before the fight day, there were elements of uncertainty which the BCF directors had failed to take notice. It was either the directors had conveniently overlooked it or they did not know what was happening. It’s elements like;
# OF ROUNDS
The boxing posters did not provide any information on the number of rounds for the two title fights. It could have been 12 rounds, 10, 8, 6 or even 2.
Why was it hard for BCF to decide? In Australia, title fights are fought over 10 rounds and they have their reasons for it but here all our title fights are fought over 12 rounds. Every poster should have provided all these information and if not then there are legal implications for it.
WEIGHT LIMIT
On the official weigh-in, Joseph Kwadjo had tipped the scale at 80kilos while Savenaca Naliva was at 83kg.
For the light heavyweight division, all major boxing bodies around the world have the weight limit at 79kg.
It should be noted that in amateur boxing, the light heavyweight division is between 75kg to 81kg while for professional boxing it’s between 76kg to 79kg.
Were the BCF directors aware of this? If they were then why did they allow the light heavyweight title fight to go ahead? Failing to meet the 79kg limit, the BCF directors could still have allowed the fight to go ahead only as a cruiserweight contest bout but not as a light heavyweight title fight.
These are the very basic elements which should not be happening. Failing to address this means the BCF directors are either too busy with other commitments and if do then they should step aside and allow other capable people to run the show.
This is the only the way to save the sport.