Three leading boxing trainers from Australia are set to bring their fighters to the South Pacific Boxing Promotions event at Prince Charles Park in Nadi on Saturday, October 26. This announcement was made by IBO (International Boxing Organisation) Fight Commissioner Justin Kennedy.
Stephen Ng from Matrix Boxing is training Lachlan O’Shea, who will challenge Winston Hill for the IBO Asia Pacific super welterweight title in the main event. Accompanying Tonga Tongotongo, known as Australia’s knockout artist, is his trainer Stephen Pasras, the founder and head of Black Diamond Boxing and Fitness Centre. Tongotongo, who has secured victories in all eight of his professional fights by knockout, will face local fighter Sebastian ‘The Sniper’ Singh in a ten-round bout for the IBO Asia Pacific cruiserweight title.
Also participating is Runqi Zhou, originally from China and now based in Australia. Zhou is being trained by the acclaimed Angelo Hyder and is set to face the skilled Umbayd Haider in a ten-round fight for the IBO Oceania-Orient featherweight title. Kennedy noted the intrigue of the match, as Haider previously trained under Hyder.
Hyder has a history of training successful Australian boxers, including Danny Green, Vic Darchinyan, and Andrew Moloney, all of whom have held world titles in their respective weight classes.
Kennedy stated that all the IBO title fights have been properly sanctioned, with SPBP director Mohammed Shameem covering the sanctioning fees and the travel expenses for the boxers, trainers, and officials, along with their accommodations.