An exhibition boxing event was canceled last Saturday due to a scheduling conflict at Subrail Park in Labasa, according to Freddy Chand, promoter for South Pacific Boxing. The venue was also reserved for a church service later in the evening, leading to the cancellation of the boxers’ matches.
Chand clarified that neither the promoter nor the Boxing Commission Fiji was responsible for the situation. “The Labasa Town Council should be held accountable for this,” he stated, highlighting the unexpected disruption faced by the promotions.
As a result of the last-minute cancellation, numerous boxers and their fans were left disappointed, with some attendees requesting a refund of half the ticket price since the scheduled fights did not occur. “Many hidden talents were showcased, despite the unfortunate circumstances,” he added.
In response to the incident, Labasa Town Council chair Paul Jaduram explained that the double booking was a result of the outdated system currently in place. He assured that improvements have been confirmed and such issues will not happen again. Jaduram acknowledged that this was not an isolated incident, as similar problems had affected other events as well.
“I have instructed my staff that this situation must not recur,” he emphasized while apologizing to the promoters, organizers, and spectators for the inconvenience caused.