The Bluewater Boxing promotion held in Sigatoka on Saturday featured several thrilling bouts but also brought to light various concerns that the Boxing Commission of Fiji (BCF) must address.
A primary issue was the safety of all participants, including boxers, fans, match officials, and judges. During the heavyweight title fight between James Singh and Semi Dauloloma, a group of fans entered the ring due to poor crowd management, prompting a brawl that only ceased when referees and a few police officers intervened.
Adi Narayan, the chairman of the BCF, condemned the incident, describing it as “unprofessional,” and declared the fight a no contest due to misconduct from both sides. “This is not professional at all,” Narayan stated, emphasizing his decision to label the fight as such due to the faults on both corners. The BCF plans to review footage of the altercation and will take necessary action.
After the main bout, disgruntled fans were heard expressing their dissatisfaction vocally. Disappointment arose particularly from the fight between Jr Binnu Singh and Krishnil Mudaliar, with some spectators directing their frustrations at the judges, the Boxing Commission of Fiji, and event promoters. Unfortunately, a lack of security meant no measures were taken to manage the crowd or to quell their angry outbursts.
The event also encountered notable scheduling problems; a scheduled 10-minute break, announced around 8 PM, stretched to over 40 minutes, resulting in the main bout not starting until after 11 PM. Fans who traveled from regions as far as Naitasiri, Rakiraki, Tailevu, Ba, and Suva expressed their frustration over the delays, with many opting to leave before the main event began.
These challenges underscore the necessity for improved event management to enhance the overall experience for attendees. As professional boxing seeks to raise its standards, tackling these issues will be vital for ensuring that future events are well-organized and meet the expectations of fans and participants.
In other matches from the evening, Siliveni Nawai and Simione Tui fought to a draw, Rakuro Daunivavana defeated Ronald Naidu after Naidu’s corner threw in the towel following the third round, and the women’s bout ended in a draw. Samuela Naqari secured a unanimous points decision against Kolinio Luvelolo, while Masitogi Rokotuva stopped Mohammed Ali in the third round. The match between Junior Mana and Lepani Levatia also ended in a draw, Junior Abhay Chand won by stopping Tomasi Vunavou in the second round, Azhar Khan triumphed by points over Nitin Lal, and Mohammed Nafiz achieved a unanimous points decision victory against Shefrazud Dean.