Three International Boxing Organisation (IBO) Asia Pacific titles are set to be contested at the South Pacific Boxing Promotions event next month. The chairman of the Boxing Commission of Fiji (BCF), Adi Narayan, announced the program’s endorsement by IBO Australia during its launch.
Scheduled for October 26 at Prince Charles Park in Nadi, the event will include not only the international title matches but also a local title fight and several local bouts, including a women’s bout. Notably, this event will mark the first instance where siblings compete for international titles. Sebastian Singh will face “King” Tonga Tongotongo for the IBO Asia Pacific cruiserweight title, while his younger brother Ubayd Haider will challenge China’s Runqi Zhou for the IBO Asia Pacific featherweight title.
Additionally, the super welterweight title will be contested by Winston Hill and Lachlan O’Shea. Narayan stated that this is a unique opportunity for local boxers to showcase their abilities on an international platform, something that has not occurred in the past few years.
Winston Hill’s brother, Jonathan Pedro Hill, will compete against Siliveni Nawai for the Fijian super middleweight title, while Jese Ravudi will take on Vanuatu’s Roy Ser. Narayan expressed gratitude to promoter Freddy Chand and director Mohammed Shameem for their efforts in organizing the event.
Chand emphasized that these matchups could create new opportunities for local boxers, including women. The women’s bout between Amo Wai and Maureen Chand will determine who gets to fight in England.
He also highlighted the significance of a potential win for Winston Hill, as it may lead to a world title shot, which has been granted by IBO. To ensure safety, Chand assured fans that security measures will be robust during the event to prevent any incidents similar to those that occurred at Lawaqa Park last month.
Chand urged boxing clubs and fighters to register their trainers with the BCF. He specified that only four individuals would be permitted in the ring per boxer, including one boxer, two trainers, and a cornerman if registered with the BCF. Security will be overseen by 30 private security personnel and 25 police officers present at the venue. Furthermore, an international IBO referee will assist local referees and officials at the event.