The brother of the late boxer Ubayd Haider, Sebastian Singh, has demanded fairness following the conclusion of the inquiry into Haider’s death presented in Parliament by Minister of Youth and Sports, Jese Saukuru. Singh expressed his concerns to SUN sports, questioning how the Minister could announce a verdict without the final investigative report being fully completed. He suggested that the decision-making process might be biased and called for an unbiased evaluation from the Minister, particularly noting that the findings were overly reliant on preliminary reports.
Edwin Wainiqolo, chairman of the Board of Inquiry (B.O.I), confirmed that the report read in Parliament is indeed the final one, yet he acknowledged they did not interview the event’s promoter, Freddy Chand, who is currently based in Sydney, Australia. Wainiqolo noted that the inquiry aimed to comprehensively investigate all aspects related to the tragic incident.
Singh, who is also a cruiserweight boxer, further criticized the report for not addressing the responsibilities of the Boxing Commission of Fiji (BCF) and the International Boxing Organisation (IBO), both of whom sanctioned the fight and should ensure adherence to safety regulations.
In light of the inquiry’s ramifications, South Pacific Boxing Promotions is pursuing legal action against the BCF and other stakeholders involved. Promoter Freddy Chand stated that he had been willing to cooperate with the inquiry but was awaiting responses regarding his legal representative’s presence during the interview. Although he has pending court actions related to his promoter license, he assured that his legal team is prepared to take necessary steps.
This ongoing situation reflects the broader challenges facing the boxing community in Fiji, highlighting the necessity for enhanced regulations and safety practices. The inquiry not only seeks accountability for Haider’s tragic death but presents an opportunity to strengthen the sport’s integrity and ensure that such incidents do not happen in the future. As dialogues continue, there remains hope for positive reforms and better protections for athletes in boxing.
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