Singh to get heavyweight belt today
THE comedy surrounding the non-availability of a heavyweight belt would be erased after the Boxing Commission of Fiji confirmed that James Singh would be presented with a new Fiji heavyweight belt today in Sigatoka.
According to the BCF chairman, Dr Subash Appana, the heavyweight belt was engraved and ready for presentation to its rightful owner.
“The heavyweight belt will be presented tomorrow (today),” he said.
“It’s a new belt and the BCF board officially confirms it.
“I had assured Singh that the BCF would hand him his heavyweight belt which he rightfully deserves before Christmas.
“I gave that assurance in public after the bout and if I had failed to deliver, I would have just walked away.
“People are making baseless accusations without knowing the facts.”
Dr Appana said a new heavyweight belt would be presented to Singh because the previous belt was sitting abroad.
“It’s with Petero Qica.
“He took it with him to Australia and the sad part is that the previous board didn’t do anything about it.
“Normally when a professional boxer hasn’t defended it for a long time and retires, they go with the belt because they didn’t lose it in the ring.
“There were so many issues with Qica and the previous board wasn’t able to make correct and hard decisions.”
James Singh was crowned the new heavyweight boxing champion after decking fellow compatriot Jonasa Kavika in one minute 26 seconds of the seventh round via a knockout at Sigatoka’s Lawaqa Park a fortnight ago under the South Pacific Boxing Promotions banner.
Meanwhile, it is envisaged the Minister for Education, Heritage and Arts, Rosy Akbar would be officially presenting the heavyweight belt to Singh at 2pm today.