Governing body puts stop to grants

EFFECTIVE immediately, professional boxers will no longer receive their 25 per cent preparation grant directly from the promoter.

This decisive change was communicated and affirmed to all clubs and boxing stakeholders during consultations at the Nadi Civic Centre yesterday.

Tensions ran high during the discussions, with clubs vehemently questioning the Boxing Commission of Fiji on the preparation funding for their boxers. Chairman Eroni Loganimoce underlined that the primary motive behind this decision is to prioritize and promote the interests of the promoters.

Past instances of boxers receiving funds and subsequently withdrawing at the last minute due to injury or presenting medical excuses that disrupt the event and disappoint paying spectators were cited as key reasons for the shift.

“No, 25 per cent for boxers it will come straight to the commission, and it will be refunded back to the promoters after the fight.

“Before when these issues were happening boxers pulling out last minute, promoters call the commission and blame us so we have come up with the idea not to give these boxers 25 per cent,” Loganimoce said.

Under the new directive, boxers are now responsible for covering the entirety of their preparation costs. Concerns were raised by clubs about unemployed boxers who rely on farming for their livelihood and emphasized the need for financial support during training for title fights.

BCF stood by their word and said, “No one is paid in advance same procedures as in the business. Once you complete the business and you will be paid, we are talking about commercial, it’s about Money,” Loganimoce reiterated.

After the fight the commission will then give the 25 percent back to promoters who then will pay boxers.

Furthermore, the commission affirmed their selection of designated doctors in Suva and the Western division for the issuance of medical certificates. Loganimoce emphasized that only sick sheets provided by Boxing Commission-appointed doctors will be deemed acceptable.

“The only sick sheet that will be accepted are the ones issued by the Boxing Commission doctors.”