Pioneers Of Samoa Boxing To Receive Awards

PRESS RELEASE
Wednesday 30th January 2008

Ten Pioneers Of Samoa Boxing Named To Receive Honourary Awards As Part Of Samoa International Pro-Am Boxing Event.

Source: eventpolynesia.com

Mr. Teleiai Su’a Edwin Puni, Managing Director of Event Polynesia yesterday announced the names of the recipients of the Samoa International Pro-Am Boxing Honorary Awards to be presented at the Preflight Cocktail on Friday 1st February 2008.

According to Mr. Puni, “It is fitting that the pioneers of Samoa boxing are honored at the inaugural Samoa International Pro-Am Boxing event for their service in boxing. This week-end Samoa will not only host representatives from the four main world boxing bodies, but will make boxing history with local referee and judges officiating the WBO Oriental Cruiserweight title.”

“Contrary to what most think, it is very hard to raise funds in Samoa to promote boxing especially to stage international fights here. This is the first and very likely to be the last time Event Polynesia Boxing will bring such an international boxing gathering here to Samoa.”

“Event Polynesia Boxing is committed to promoting Samoan boxers. However, the international title fights will have to be in Auckland where we stage our New Zealand fights because of the huge expenses that we incur to bring such events to Samoa.”

Mr. Puni and boxing officials will today make a courtesy call to personally thank the Prime Minister, Hon. Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi to thank the Samoa Government for the financial assistance towards the amateur expenses of this event.

Mr. Reginald Leca, President of Oceania Boxing Association and representative for PABA and WBA at media conference yesterday compared Samoa to Cuba as a force in world boxing. But unlike Cuba, Samoa needs to move its amateur boxers to professional boxing earlier rather than very late as is the case with Maselino Masoe.

“This requires amateur boxing to work together with professional boxing in Samoa in association with promoters such as Event Polynesia Boxing that is helping Samoan professional boxers to get ranking for title fights.”

The 10 recipients of the Samoa International Pro-Am Boxing Honorary Awards are Hon Peter Paul – Promoter, Hon Sala Ulugia Suivai – Promoter / Coach, Savaiinaea Malo Slade – Boxer / Trainer / Coach, Oscar Meredith – Trainer / Coach, Hon Fa’asootauloa Sam Saili – Promoter, Galumalemana Afeleti Betham – Trainer / Coach / Promoter, Hon Polataivao Fosi Schmidt – Boxer / Promoter / Coach, Lesa Eric Fatupaito – Trainer / Coach, Maposua Rudolf Keil – Promoter and Ulugia Elijah Stanley – Promoter.

ends

© Scoop Media