Trials for Fiji boxers

THE 2023 Pacific Games in the Solomon Islands will serve as direct qualification for boxing from the region to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.

This has been made possible through the continuous lobbying to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) by the Fiji Amateur Boxing Association (FABA).

Previously, the boxers from the Pacific faced a tougher route to the Olympics having to participate in the Asian qualifiers.

FABA board member Thomas Johansen said the Pacific Games was about 12 months away and they had been were trying to get their amateur competitions happening every fortnight.

“Our Golden Gloves National Championship will be held in

Suva around mid-December,” Johansen said.

“We will then have our national trials for the Pacific Games around February or March next year. There are seven weight divisions that will be contested during the Olympics in the men’s division.”

He said after so many years the IOC had finally brought back the Olympic qualifiers to the Pacific Games.

“Previously our qualifying was through Asia.

“That is why we hardly had boxers from the Pacific, not only Fiji but the Pacific at the Olympics. It was because of a tougher pathway.

“We had to go all the way to Asia to face the top tier boxers there.

“Because of the resources they have, they really put us at a disadvantage. So now the Pacific

Games in the Solomon Islands will serve as a direct entry to Paris if you win gold.

“There are only seven weight categories at the Olympic Games but for the Pacific Games we will try to send boxers for all the weight categories.”

The weight classes that will be contested for during the men’s division at the 2024 Olympic Games include 51kg, 57kg, 63.5kg, 71kg, 80kg, 92kg and plus 92kg.