BCF boss raises concern over poor boxing standard

The humiliating defeats of three of the coun­try's top boxers in the weekend has finally caught the attention of the Boxing Commission of Fiji (BCF).

Speaking to SUNsports yesterday BCF chairman Adi Narayan said it was disap­pointing to see a massive drop in the stand­ard of boxing in the country.

Last Saturday, in Gold Coast, Australia, Fiji super welterweight champion Winston Hill suffered a sixth round knockout loss to Ben Mahoney.

Hill was decked twice in the first round and again in the fifth round be­fore he was knocked out in the sixth.

In Melbourne, former Fiji heavyweight champion James Singh suffered a knockout loss to John Figota.

At the IBA (International Boxing Asso­ciation) World Boxing Championships in Dubai, WBA (World Boxing Association) Oceania lightweight champion Mikaele Ravalaca lost on a unanimous points decision to 19-year-old Zewdu Haymanot De­salegn on Ethiopia.

"We need to be clinical, we need to have the heart to fight and win," Narayan said.

"Getting points is crucial in big fights like those, our boxers just try and go for the kill in the first two rounds. Our standard of boxing has dropped and it is bad. We need to regroup and educate our boxers with their trainers come next year."

Narayan said BCF would call for a meet­ing with trainers, boxers and stakeholders on how to improve the standard of boxing in Fiji.

"This is one way we can tackle the prob­lem. We will use these three fights during the meeting to discuss the issue, solutions and goals," he added. Narayan also added that poor officiating (overseas) was one factor that also nega­tively impacted the boxers.

"I know it is not my area to speak in but our boxers are treated unfairly sometimes. We can't do anything because the referee is the boss in the ring but we can learn from our fights and be better," he said.

Wrong motive

In another development, the Fiji Amateur Boxing Association (FABA) has destined itself from Ravalaca's participation at the World Boxing Championships since IBA is not recognised by the International Olym­pic Committee (IOC).

This is because of governance issues and financial transpar­ency. Ravalaca was accompanied by former Fiji amateur boxing official Seru Whippy and trainer Osea Nanovu.

Narayan said BFC would only issue a re­lease for Ravalaca if he was fighting in a professional bout. In a video released, Ravalaca indicated that he had broken his hand before the fight.

"I would have knocked him out if my hand was not broken," he said.

He also indicated that he has learnt from the loss. When contacted Sydney-based trainer Lepani Wilson said boxers in Fiji must al­ways get their motives right.

"For Ravalaca to fight in the World Cham­pions, he needs to train over eight months for it and not for eight weeks or days," he said.

Wilson said the problem with local boxers is that their focus is on making quick mon­ey instead of building their careers where they could secure lucrative offers.

"It's the greed for money is the very reason why boxing in Fiji will not improve. That is probably why they went overseas since Christmas is around the corner."

According to IBA, the total prize money of the championships will be US$8.32 million (F J$18.8m) and the best 104 boxers can earn these amounts in Dubai.

The winners of each weight category will get US$300,000 (FJ$678, 135), the silver med­allists US$150,000 (FJ$339,067), the bronze medallists US$75,000 (FJ$169,553) while the quarter-finalists also US$10,000 (F J$22,604).

Each of the prizes will be shared between the boxers, coaches and the national federa­tions in order to support all of the partici­pants.

The boxers can earn 50 per cent of the prize money, 25 per cent will go to the coaches and the remaining 25 per cent to the national federations.