BCF warns boxer over Samoa fight

Boxing Commission of Fiji (BCF) will take action against heavyweight boxer Sainivalati Ratu after he failed to obtain his clearance to fight in Samoa last night.

BCF chairman Adi Narayan told SUNsports yesterday that Ratu’s manager Osea Nanovu took him to fight under the boxing promotion set by former Samoan-New Zealand professional boxer David Tua.

“Tua is promoting some sort of professional boxing contest between Fiji, Samoa and New Zealand,” he said.

“The boxer (Ratu) should have asked us for clearance, he just won one fight with James (Singh) and he goes and violate the rules and regulations.”

Narayan said Ratu could face six months in jail or a fine of $10,000 heading to overseas without clearance, according to the Boxing Act.

“It’s in the Act so if I enforce that, what will happen to this boxer,” he said.

“It’s a warning that boxers and managers should know when they go overseas, they need to obtain clearance form from BCF.”

Narayan highlighted that BCF will ensure that a boxer is cleared medically, has clean police record with good behaviour.

“It’s very disappointing that this is happening,” he said.

Also, boxer Eliseo Cakaunivalu is billed in the same programme and it’s alleged that he has also gone to Samoa without his release from BCF.

When contacted Nanovu said the reason for not obtaining their release was because there was a delay in receiving their contracts from Samoa.

“I had messaged Eroni Loganimoce (BCF director) about the delay in receiving the contracts. I’ve to give BCF the contract first before they give the release letter,” Nanovu said.

He said the boxing officials in Samoa were communicating though a former amateur boxing referee and judge in Fiji.

“They had screenshots of the contract and sent it over to me but I told them that I needed it in my email so I can give it to BCF for the release letter. We were still communicating about the contracts when they sent us the air tickets.”

Nanovo said during their face-off session in Apia, they managed to get the contracts and emailed it to Eroni Loganimoce for the release letter.

“I had told Eroni (Loganimoce) that straight after the two boxers fight, I’ll get $50 each from them as the fee for the release letters. Both the boxers have agreed to it.”

Nanovu said a lot of Fiji boxers who have fought overseas have gone without any clearance letter from BCF.

“I’m very honest with what I’m doing and that’s why I messaged Eroni Loganimoce before we came to Samoa,” he added.