Citizens’ Constitutional Forum (CCF) chief executive Bulutani Mataitawakilai is the newly appointed chairman of the Boxing Commission Fiji.

Minister for Youth and Sports Laisenia Tuitubou made the announcement of the newly appointed board members at Nasoqo House in Suva yesterday.

“The re-establishment of the Boxing Commission of Fiji sets the stage for a well-run organisation which promotes professional boxing and the regulatory framework within which the health and well-being of boxers are protected,” he said.

“This is the responsible way forward and I have asked the board to address them as a matter of urgency, boxers’ welfare should always be paramount.”

Tuitubou added that Government and BCF would partner to ensure that holistic policies are designed and enforced to safeguard everyone involved in the sport.

He also highlighted that the sports amateur and professional boxing co-exist independently but can generally be seen as two sides of the same coin.

“We need only look at boxing history which continues to show that nothing prepares a future champion in the professional ranks like a solid foundation and years of experience in the amateur ranks.

“The challenge is in establishing the measures and criteria that must be met before amateurs turn professional, this applies to both male and female and I look forward to the development of women’s boxing in Fiji.”

Newly appointed chairman Mataitawakilai believes his newly appointed board will assist boxers and help the sport grow.

“We are here not only to bring changes to boxing in the ring but we look forward to support and provide the capacity building for officials and judges to help boxers not only in the ring but how we can help them to see boxing as their livelihood.”

The BCF board members include Usman Ali, Abhisakh Kumar, Dr Warren Thaggard and Aminiasi Vulaono.

Edited by Leone Cabenatabua

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