World championship to prepare boxers for Commonwealth Games
“It’s important that Fiji is here and shows the result of the world that we are getting stronger and we are going to be a force in the future,” he added.
Monday 08 September 2025 | 01:30
Josaia Veiqaravi (left) during the World Boxing Championships in Liverpool, England on September 6, 2025.
Photo: World Boxing
The participation of the Fiji boxers at the World Championship in Liverpool, England will help prepare them for next year’s Glasgow Games.
Head coach Cameron Todd said he was happy with his team’s outing.
“This world championship are about our boxers gaining experience and prepare for the Commonwealth Games next year,” Todd said.
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“It is very different, you’re fighting the best boxers from all over the world and it’s a very hard competition.
“It’s important that Fiji is here and shows the result of the world that we are getting stronger and we are going to be a force in the future,” he added.
On day one of competition, Semi Koroitukana lost his bout by unanimous decisión to Saudi Arabia’s Mousa Zubayr Alhawsaw in the men’s 65kg bout.
Josaia Veiqaravi also lost to experienced Canadian boxer Kuwardeep Manu in the men’s 70kg category; Manu has had 75 fights.
Sakiusa Narara went down to Aryan Panah of the British Refugee team after referee stopped contest in the first round while Jone Davule was defeated by France’s Lounes Hamraoui by a unanimous point decision.
Meanwhile lone female boxer Jasmine Daunakamakama was barred from competing for failing to meet a deadline for a genetic sex test.
These tests are not available in Fiji prompting Fiji Amateur Boxing Association (FABA) to turn to a laboratory in Leeds upon World Boxing’s recommendation.
Despite assurances that results would be delivered within 48 hours, they were not. This resulted in Fiji’s female boxer’s exclusion from the draw.
FABA said it was informed on July 22 that all female athletes needed to provide results of a “femininity test” during registration for the competition, which started on Thursday.
“We followed World Boxing’s advice and then found ourselves trapped, along with boxers from France, Nigeria, Dominica, Philippines” FABA said in a statement.
“Our hard-working athlete is being punished for a bureaucratic failure and a policy that was communicated far too late.”
The test results for all 12 boxers were received a day after the competition draw was completed.
