Good Start for Amateur Boxing
Fiji Amateur Boxing Association (FABA) resumed its much anticipated weekly programme at the Stanley Brown Gym in Walu Bay, Suva on Monday.
As expected, fans turned up in numbers to witness the Monday Night Fights which was a major attraction in the past and helped produce champions like Alipate Korovou, Tevita Tui, Kamisese Vaubula, Jovesa Keresi, Jo Nitiva,
Inoke Cakautini and Sakaraia Ve to name a few.
Teams from boxing clubs all over Viti Levu brought in their best boxers, the youngest being 10-years old.
Association president Manasa Baravilala said this was a great start for them as there was a need to develop more young boxers.
He also indicated that it was the formal opening of the newly renovated Stanley Brown Gym.
“This is where it all started for amateur boxing in the past where the late Brown and officials set the way forward for the sport.
“We are just getting started after restrictions were lifted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We will go through the results, analyse the performance and set schedule for the next round,” he said.
“We’re trying to invest in the young kids. That’s really is the plan, if you are to succeed then you have to start at that level. “Another area we are focusing on is women boxers. We really would like to develop that division too.”
The fight was a first experience for many boxers including 18-year old Ilisoni Tegu.
The Vusasivo, Natewa, Cakaudrove native said they only train at the grounds and never used punching bags.
“This is my first time here in a boxing gym, and my opponent gave me a good fight,” he said. “I aim to represent Fiji in future.” Tegu won the bantamweight contest over three rounds.
Clubs that participated in 31 fights included Jittu, Newtown, Sorokoba, Navosa and Uptown.