Boxing champion turns focus to youth empowerment

Former Fiji super middle­weight champion Winston Hill is urging young people to stay away from drugs and petty crime, following his retirement from boxing.

Hill made the call after knocking out Isikeli Senidoko in the second round to claim the Fiji super mid­dleweight title fight at Suva's Voda­fone Arena on Saturday night.

This was Hill's third national title as he also holds the Fiji wel­terweight and super welterweight titles.

In a surprise move, Hill relin­quished the title and handed it back to Senidoko before announcing his retirement.

"It's been an amazing journey," he said.

"I would rather walk away as just a person who endeavoured and pursued his dreams of becoming a boxer. This is the best, and I hope that story inspires the next person.

"I don't mind not being a champi­on of three divisions as long as the good work outside of the ring continues to help people and inspire youths to get on the right path."

Hill said he had an unused, competition-sized boxing ring and box­ing equipment that he was willing to make available for youth empowerment programmes.

"It doesn't just teach them boxing and the discipline of boxing, but something that aligns with faith and the morals that faith teaches," he said.

"It's just a deeper journey for me now. It's not just boxing; we're go­ing beyond the platform."

He said he would need to speak to the right people about securing warehouse space in Suva to run the programme.

"Idle hands and idle minds are the devil's playground. There are too many kids sitting at bus stops at lOpm," Hill said.

"They are not doing anything, and being idle gets them into mischie­vous activities. Drugs are available and affordable, but the inactivity of our youth means they have to di­vert that energy somewhere."

Hill said young people who had too much idle time could turn to disruptive activities.

His victory was also a reflection of his faith and his recovery from alcohol addiction.

"When I'm in training camp, I lock in and focus on what we need to do. When I'm outside camp and not fighting, I lose discipline and self­control.

"I sort of backslide into that life and the worldly distractions. Alco­hol took a grasp of me."

Hill revealed that he had been drinking between six and 12 packs of beer a day over the 12 months since his loss to Australian boxer Ben Mahoney in December last year.

"It took a heavy toll. Although I was drinking, I was still training during the day and working in the fitness industry.

"It goes to show that you can be on top of your game, and no matter who you are or what position you are in, there is always a dark place you might experience."

Hill said he was grateful that Seni­doko had called him back into the ring, describing it as divine inter­vention.

"I see God's hand at work in Se­nidoko calling me out and getting me to train and dial back in to walk that spiritual journey again."

He also thanked his family, gym community and supporters who bought his T-shirts to help fund his training camps.

Hill said he would remain grate­ful to those who had supported him since his return to boxing in 2022.