Three International Boxing Organisation (IBO) Asia Pacific titles are set to be contested next month at an event organized by South Pacific Boxing Promotions. The Boxing Commission of Fiji (BCF) chairman, Adi Narayan, confirmed during the event launch that the program has received endorsement from IBO Australia.
The boxing event is scheduled for October 26 at Prince Charles Park in Nadi. In addition to the international title fights, there will be a local title bout and several local matches, including a women’s fight.
Notably, this event will mark the first occasion where siblings will 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 fight China’s Runqi Zhou for the IBO Asia Pacific featherweight title. The third international match will feature Winston Hill against Lachlan O’Shea for the super welterweight title.
“This is a unique event; I can’t recall this happening over the last three years,” Narayan said. He emphasized the significance of the opportunity for local fighters to showcase their skills on an international platform.
In additional matches, Hill’s brother Jonathan Pedro Hill will challenge Siliveni Nawai for the Fijian super middleweight title, and Jese Ravudi will take on Vanuatu’s Roy Ser.
Narayan expressed gratitude to promoter Freddy Chand and director Mohammed Shameem for facilitating this event, while Chand noted that these fights will create new prospects for local boxers, including women. The outcome of the women’s bout between Amo Wai and Maureen Chand will determine who secures a fight in England.
“If Winston Hill wins this fight, he will be in line for a world title shot granted by IBO, bringing him closer to a chance at one of the three major belts,” Chand stated.
Chand assured fans that there will be tight security during the matches to prevent incidents similar to those that took place at Lawaqa Park last month. He urged boxing clubs and boxers to ensure their trainers are registered with BCF, pointing out that only four individuals will be permitted in the ring: one boxer, two trainers, and a cornerman if licensed.
“If a boxer has unregistered trainers, they will be paired with someone who is registered. It’s essential to have your team properly registered,” Chand added. He guaranteed that security measures would be robust, with thirty private security personnel and twenty-five police officers present at the venue. An international IBO referee will also be on hand to assist local referees and officials.