The Boxing Commission of Fiji (BCF) took full responsibility for not providing the title for 2020 Fiji heavyweight champion James Singh.

And 11 days later Singh received the title from BCF chairman Dr Subhash Appana yesterday in Suva.

The event was promoted by South Pacific Boxing Promotions with local promoter Freddy Chand at the helm in which Singh won by knockout in the seventh round on December 12 in Sigatoka over Jonasa Kavika.

In a statement, the BCF said: “Due to an administrative oversight, the fight did not have a title belt onsite to award the winner of the title bout.

“While the match lived up to its billing and patrons returned satisfied with the event itself, BCF sincerely apologizes to heavyweights James Singh and Jonasa Kavika, South Pacific Boxing Promotions, Event Sponsors, the professional boxing fraternity and patrons in Fiji for this grave error and more so to the winner for not having arranged a belt onsite to award him after the bout. The BCF has reviewed the process and takes full responsibility for this oversight to ensure closure of the issue. “

The current commission led by chairman Dr Subhash Appana were all appointed in September 2019. Consisting of Usman Lale, Eroni Loganimoce, Donny Yee and Litiana Loabuka have continued to work together to try and improve professional boxing in Fiji.

In the last 15 months the commission has standardized referees and judges’ allowances, worked to ensure that all promoters fees are paid before an event is approved by BCF.

They have also ensured that promoters have guaranteed that the purse for scheduled boxers is set aside before events. The commission admits that more operational work still needs to be done to improve processes for the professional boxing community and will work to complete this before their term expires in September 2021.

A review by BCF is also underway to ensure an increase of the boxer’s purse from 2021 onwards. This year, in September the BCF has also successfully removed tax previously charged on boxers’ purses on the basis that earnings fall under the threshold.  The BCF is grateful to Fiji Revenue and Customs Services (FRCS) for reviewing and approving the same.