Plans are underway to establish a boxing gym in Labasa aimed at revitalizing both amateur and professional boxing in Vanua Levu. This initiative was highlighted by Samuela Ligairi, the special administrator of the Labasa Town Council, during an interview with SUNsports last Saturday. Ligairi’s comments followed his attendance at the South Pacific Boxing Promotion event held at Subrail Park, marking a return of professional boxing to Labasa after a nine-year hiatus.
The Labasa Town Council intends to breathe new life into the sport through this development. The identified location for the gym is near the botanical garden at Lions Park. Ligairi mentioned that construction work will commence soon, with potential funding support expected from the Ministry of Local Government, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the Boxing Commission of Fiji.
“We will have a boxing ring for training and it will be a fully equipped gym,” Ligairi stated. The decision to build the new gym is motivated by the limited space at the Nasekula Gym, with plans to create a more spacious facility to accommodate a larger number of athletes.
The Labasa Town Council is in discussions with the Macuata Rugby Union to facilitate the development of this larger gym in town. The MRU previously contributed to the establishment of the gym at Nasekula, with equipment supplied by the Silktails Rugby League Club. The Labasa Town Council has also reached out to other NGOs for support in this initiative.
Ligairi believes this development could have a positive impact on the Town Council’s finances while also encouraging more individuals to explore boxing and discover their potential. He noted that hosting significant sporting events, such as the Digicel Fiji FACT football tournament and the Fiji Secondary Schools rugby competition (Vodafone Deans Trophy), has revitalized the community in Vanua Levu.
“This is a holistic approach, not only for the council to benefit but also for the local economy, where hoteliers, taxi operators, market vendors, and restaurants will all share in the profits,” he added.