Veteran boxing trainer Lepani Wilson has urged the Boxing Commission of Fiji (BCF) to refrain from making public comments regarding the ongoing investigation into the death of boxer Ubayd Haider. His appeal follows a press conference held last Friday by BCF’s chairman, Adi Narayan, and board member Eroni Loganimoce, where they announced the suspension of the South Pacific Boxing Promotions (SPBP) license, citing promoter Fred Chand’s controversial social media remarks as the reason.
Wilson emphasized the need for respect during this sensitive time, highlighting the gravity of the situation which deeply affects the grieving family. He stated, “This is sad because we’ve got the investigation going on and we should respect it.” Drawing from his own experiences in the 1990s, when he dealt with the death of boxer Filimoni Takayawa while serving as president of the Professional Boxing Wrestling Association (PBWA), Wilson noted the importance of collaboration among all parties involved and establishing safety measures for boxers.
He expressed the belief that blame should not rest solely on one individual, acknowledging that systemic processes may not have been adequately followed by those responsible. “Everyone shares the blame because there were processes not followed by those that were supposed to do it,” Wilson remarked. He advocates for a comprehensive approach to ensure the safety of athletes in the sport moving forward, insisting that “common sense should prevail” in these discussions, given the serious nature of the issue.
Wilson’s call for unity and forward-thinking solutions is a positive step towards ensuring a safer environment in boxing, reflecting the community’s commitment to the well-being of its athletes.
This situation underscores the critical need for ongoing dialogue and reform within the sport, ensuring that tragedies such as this do not recur and that the lessons learned contribute to improved safety standards.
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