Sixteen-year-old Anaseini Naikanivatu has made a striking entrance to the amateur boxing scene, compiling 18 fights in just her first year and already stepping onto international mats three times. The Ra teenager attracted attention on Day One of the Pacific Nations Amateur Boxing Championships at the FMF Gymnasium in Suva yesterday, where she produced a composed, tactical display against Papua New Guinea’s Liranda Jemina Hanani.
Naikanivatu said her measured approach was deliberate and shaped by coaching guidance. “In the first round, I did not throw hard and heavy punches so that I could read her style of boxing, and that was something my coach taught me,” she said after the bout. Observers noted her calm ringcraft and ability to adapt during the contest, traits unusual for someone with such limited time in the sport.
Even as she impressed, Naikanivatu was clear-eyed about areas for improvement as she prepares for her final bout in the championships. “I will need to work on the skills of throwing hard and tough punches,” she said, underlining that power and finishing ability remain priorities as she steps up the level of opposition. Her admission highlights the learning curve for young amateurs moving quickly from domestic to regional competition.
Beyond her own development, Naikanivatu has become an outspoken advocate for more young women to take up boxing. She urged peers to consider the sport not only for competition but for the practical benefits of self-defence and confidence-building. “Boxing is physically demanding, but it can also serve as an important tool for self-defence and personal confidence,” she said, reflecting a growing movement among female athletes in Fiji to broaden participation in traditionally male-dominated sports.
Naikanivatu’s rapid accumulation of fights and early international experience places her among a generation of Fijian teenagers pushing for higher standards and greater visibility. In recent months other young Fijian boxers have also been in the spotlight — including 17-year-old Merewalesi Kolitapa’s campaign toward Youth Olympic qualifiers — underscoring a pipeline of youth talent. The rise of these athletes comes as Fiji’s boxing authorities press for improved preparation after a string of challenging overseas results, making international experience like the Pacific Nations championships crucial for gaining exposure.
The FMF Gymnasium tournament offers a timely proving ground as Naikanivatu and her peers test skills against regional rivals. For the Ra native, the takeaways from yesterday are practical: continue to sharpen power punches, convert tactical smarts into scoring blows, and keep building experience. Her steady progress in both local and international rings suggests a promising trajectory if she sustains this intensity of competition and training.
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