Safiq eyes Commonwealth Games
Kwadjo Boxing’s Ziyad Safiq hopes to represent Fiji in international competitions an day.
But the 17-year-old each day at a time.
The Year 12 student of International School Suva started boxing in 2016 and has four amateur fights.
He won all his fights in the youth middleweight category including a gold medal at the TJ’s Golden Glove Championship in Suva, last month.
Safiq acknowledged his trainer, Joseph Kwadjo, for his continued guidance.
“I joined Joseph Kwadjo’s kids programme back in 2016 while also trying out other sports such as athletics and swimming,” he said.
“Boxing has always intrigued me. The discipline and drive involved in the sport is something I love.
“The sport disciplines you while rewarding you with confidence. No one in the family has ever taken up boxing.
“I started training for fun, but as I’ve progressed I’ve taken the sport more seriously.
“I believe to be the best you must surround yourself with the best. My coach always wants the best for all of his fighters, so I trust my team knows what is next for me, I am just focused on always giving 100 percent at training.”
Safiq added that Kwadjo wants him to take up his boxing to another level and to represent Fiji. “Kwadjo is the best coach any one could ask for. Not only he coaches me but motivates and teaches me in other things than is taking boxing.
“He wants me to try for the Commonwealth Games and if that is what he wants, I will work towards it,” he said. He listed a number of boxers who also inspires him to do better every time he jumps into the ring.
“I would say Mike Tyson, Muhammed Ali and Vinny Pazienza are names that have influenced the way I think,”he said. “I do watch a lot of modern day fighters such as Vasily Lomachenko, Shakur Stevenson and Gervonta Davis; they’re by far my favourite boxers right now.
“As a southpaw I try my best to learn from how they fight.
“The Prince Naseem Hamed is also an honourable mention, solely because he’s a fighter I’ve always loved watching.”
Safiq also trains at the Boxfit Gym in Toorak and indicated that he is fortunate to be part of a high qualified team.
National amateur boxing rep, Winston Hill also trains them occasionally.
He now looks forward to the Monday Night Fights which starts on March 15 at the Commander Stanley Brown Boxing and Fitness Centre, Walu Bay, Suva.
International Boxing Association (AIBA) president, Umar Kremlev, held his first AIBA Virtual Forum for Oceania yesterday.
And the newly elected Russian remains firm on his plans for all the five confederation including the Oceania.
However, his priority was to clear AIBA’s debts.
And speaking to SUNsports yesterday, he indicated that plans are underway.
“Financial situation is one of our main priorities as we are to reform our organisation,” he said.
“So far, it’s been only 2.5 months since I started my work as a president of AIBA. We are in negotiating process with potential sponsors and partners in order to ensure AIBA financial stability. We hope to announce our partnerships soon,”he said.
In an earlier interview earlier this year, he indicated his plan of building the Oceania boxing academy in Fiji.
“The preparations are already on the way, we are in touch with Fiji Boxing about it on a regular basis. I am sure that this academy will change a lot not only for Fiji boxing but for the whole region,” Kremlev said.
“There would be a lot of educational Programs for coaches, referees and judges, ringside doctors, cut men, as well as managers - all free of charge for the participants. It will be a training center for athletes as well.
“Each single country at all continents is important for us. We will develop boxing everywhere and will make sure that boxing is on top of its popularity.
“Regarding Oceania, we already started this process with the academy. We plan to launch many educational programs and to start experience exchange with other countries.
“We see a lot of potential in Oceania boxing, so we will pay special attention to make sure it is realised.”
With COVID-19 shutting borders, Kremlev plans to resurrect competitions such as the Oceania Boxing Championship. Former amateur boxers Joe Keresi and Joe Ravudi were Fijians who won the Oceania Boxing Championship gold medal.
The other Fijian boxers to have won silver were Inia Vuli and Taslim Shah.
“We are looking forward to starting the active organisation of the training camps and other events in Oceania as soon as the pandemic restrictions allow,” he said.
“We will discuss with the national federations a way to conduct the training events in the countries with all the safety measures.
“As you know, we are actively conducting tournaments in Europe at the moment, and we would be happy to organise Oceania Boxing Championships as soon as the travel restrictions in the region allow us.” Amateur boxing has been suspended from the Olympics Games due to its debts and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will review its status once the debts are settled.