The Bluewater Boxing promotion in Sigatoka featured several thrilling matches on Saturday but also brought to light numerous concerns that the Boxing Commission of Fiji (BCF) must address.
One of the primary issues raised was the safety of all parties involved, including boxers, fans, referees, and judges. During the heavyweight title match between James Singh and Semi Dauloloma, a lack of crowd control allowed fans to invade the ring, resulting in a fight that only ceased when referees and police stepped in.
BCF chairman Adi Narayan criticized the situation as “unprofessional” and chose to declare the match a no contest, attributing misconduct to both corners. “This is not professional at all,” Narayan stated, further explaining, “It was my decision to call the fight a no contest as both corners were wrong in their part.”
The BCF plans to review video footage of the incident to determine appropriate measures. Following the main fight’s conclusion, fans expressed their disappointment loudly, some directing their frustration at the judges, the commission, and the event promoters. Unfortunately, there was no security present to manage these tensions or to prevent the outbursts from escalating.
The event also faced notable scheduling difficulties, as a scheduled 10-minute break around 8 PM stretched into over 40 minutes, delaying the main bout until past 11 PM. Fans who had traveled from distant locations such as Naitasiri, Rakiraki, Tailevu, Ba, and Suva expressed their frustration, with many leaving before the main event commenced.
These challenges underscore the necessity for improved event management and organization to enhance the experience for attendees. As professional boxing aims to raise its standards, addressing these concerns will be essential for the smooth operation of future events and meeting fans’ and participants’ expectations.
In other fights during the evening, Siliveni Nawai and Simione Tui’s match ended in a draw, Rakuro Daunivavana triumphed over Ronald Naidu after Naidu’s corner conceded defeat in the third round, another women’s bout also ended in a draw, Samuela Naqari won by unanimous decision against Kolinio Luvelolo, Masitogi Rokotuva defeated Mohammed Ali in the third round, the clash between Junior Mana and Lepani Levatia concluded in a draw, Junior Abhay Chand stopped Tomasi Vunavou in the second round, Azhar Khan earned a points victory over Nitin Lal, and Mohammed Nafiz also secured a unanimous decision win against Shefrazud Dean.