Promoter Quits
Saturday night’s boxing promotion at Prince Charles Park in Nadi was the final one for South Pacific Boxing Promotions (SPBP).
This was confirmed to SUNsports by SPBP director Mohammed Shameem.
“That is our last promotion in Fiji,” Shameem said.
Shameem, who resides in Vancouver, Canada, said the decision to pull out was not an easy one.
“I cannot operate in an environment where the boxing authority views me more as an enemy rather than a partner,” he said.
“Most of the Boxing Commission of Fiji (BCF) directors are good but there are a few who have made things very difficult for me.
“This is despite the fact I’ve already staged 14 promotions the past five years (excluding two years of the global pandemic COVID-19). This year (2022) alone I did four promotions. No other promoter has done that.”
Shameem said apart from investing more than FJ$500,000 to his promotions over the five-year period, he also reached out to assist boxing clubs in Nadi, Bukuya and Sorokoba.
Ex-World Champs
The SPBP has staged promotions in Ba, Lautoka and Nadi. It also brought in former world champions like Renold Quinlan and King Davidson to be part of their promotions.
“In most of our promotions I didn’t make money but this is what my family has been involved with for Fiji the past decades. The promotions are a way to help boxers earn money to support their families.
“Even today some boxers still call me up in Vancouver for cash assistance and I help them out, then we sort it out when it comes to my promotion(s),” Shameem added.
He said for professional boxing in the country to grow, BCF directors must be flexible with the rules to allow promoters make some money.
“I was not allowed by the Commission to sign up boxers two or three months before the fight. This is unthinkable because boxers need time to train. At this time I can only sign them up a month before the fight, which is not fair to the boxers and also to fans that pay money to
I cannot operate in an environment where the boxing authority views me more as an enemy... Mohammed Shameem South Pacific Boxing Promotions director
watch them fight.”
Shameem said BCF would need to review and reduce all their fees and allow promoters to take control of their promotions.
Not up to standard
“At one time I was told not to make announcements from the ring. I’m the promoter and I put my money into the programme so why I’m not allowed to speak?
“Also, while a lot of fees have been charged on us promoters the services
are not up to standard, for example the standard of referees and judges.
“Yes, it’s normal for promoters and the Commission to have differences but we are all adults and we can resolve the situation amicably.
“Like I said before there is a need for flexibility and this happens all around the world in the sport of boxing. It’s a give and take sort of thing where in the end it is a winwin situation for all parties.”
Shameem said he feels for the boxers and trainers in the country but he had to make some tough decisions because of the way he has been treated by certain Commission directors.
Boxing Commission of Fiji chairman Subhash Appana said he would comment today.
“I will respond to this tomorrow (today) as it contains more than I expected,” Appana said yesterday.