New Zealand, Samoa, Fiji and Tahiti Set For Boxing Showdown

New Zealand, Samoa, Fiji and Tahiti Set For Boxing Showdown

Boxing goes to the final round in November with promotions in Tahiti, Fiji and Samoa ahead of the Pacific International Boxing Championship (PIBC) to start in 2012. The proposed boxing series is equivalent to the Pacific Rugby Cup rivalry in the region and is deemed as the perfect tournament to further develop the infrastructure of boxing in the Pacific.

Samoa cruiserweight champion Vaitele Soi returns to Auckland next week to fight on the Glozier Promotion; a win will guarantee Soi a World Boxing Organization (WBO) Asia Pacific title shot against former WBO cruiserweight title holder Muyoyo Mensah. A late challenge by Samoa's light heavyweight champion Warren Fuiava against WBO Asia Pacific title holder Soulan Pounceby of New Zealand on the 18th November promotion has been put on hold due to an injured Pounceby. Promoter Glozier hopes to include the Pounceby vs Fuiava in his March 2012 promotion. Vili's Gym Boxing Promotion in October in Auckland saw Samoan prospects Vaitele Soi, Warren Fuiava and Faimasasa Tavui winning all their fights by first round knockout.

Tahiti boxing following the success of its amateur team at the recent Pacific Games in New Caledonia has set its next goal to conquer professional boxing in the Pacific. Tahiti topped the boxing charts with five gold medals, New Caledonia with two gold followed by Samoa, Papua Niu Guinea and Nauru with a gold medal each. The Papeete figh night on Friday 25th November will see Tahitian welterweight Jean Louis Arihau and light welterweight Tinitua Neagle against Tony Iapesa and Michael Fonoti of Samoa. The main event will be headlined by Samoan light heavyweight Faimasasa Tavui in a twelve round contest for the vacant UBO International title.

Mr. Reginald Leca, UBO Oceania Commissioner and Tahiti matchmaker says, "Fighting the Samoan boxers will be a good test for our boxers turning professional. Samoa has established a professional boxing development for their boxers after amateur; it is what we now need for Tahiti and Caledonia."

Fijian light welterweight champ Farzan Ali Junior will be going toe-to-toe with Samoan welterweight champion Oli Filimaua. Filimaua is going down a division to fight in Nadi on Saturday 25th November. Ali knocked out Samoan Tony Iapesa in the sixth round of a ten round contest at the Vodafone Arena in Suva in 2009 and continues to be undefeated in his last seven outings.

According to Filimaua's trainer Leapai Richard Brown, "Filimaua has never lost a fight and we do not intend to lose in Fiji."

The following Thursday 1st December will feature a Fiji vs Samoa international contest on the Samoa Pro Am Fights card in Apia. Iosia Nanai takes on Junior Naivogo in the super middle weight division, Warren Fuiava aganist Pita Tabuarua in the light heavyweight division and the much awaited rematch between Pele Faumui and Abhay Chand in the middleweight division.

Fiji matchmaker Mr. Ram Paras says, "Chand's only loss since 2009 was to Faumui of Samoa. This will be a great fight. The opportunity to fight in Samoa will set the bench mark for our boxers going into the Pacific International Boxing Championship next year."

Samoa boxing promoter Tuilagi Saipele Esera who will be hosting the PIBC meeting in Apia has confirmed the attendance of the promoters from New Zealand, Fiji and Tahiti. The meeting will include the signing of a MOU between the founding members New Zealand, Samoa, Fiji and Tahiti.

"First leg of the proposed boxing series will be in New Zealand in March 2012. The other two legs will be in Tahiti and Fiji with the final leg in Samoa in December each year," according to Tuilagi.

ENDS

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