The Commission of Inquiry (COI) is seeking an extension to the deadline for their investigations into the death of featherweight boxer Ubayd Haider. Chairman Edwin Wainiqolo announced that an additional two weeks are necessary to complete their inquiries, as they have yet to interview key individuals, including Fred Chand, the promoter of South Pacific Boxing Promotions, and director Mohammed Shameem.
The interview with Shameem was initially set for yesterday but was postponed due to a scheduling conflict with the investigation team’s meeting in Suva. A Zoom interview with Shameem is now planned for Monday. Wainiqolo explained that the logistical difficulties of coordinating times because of geographic spread among panel members are contributing to the delays. Meanwhile, they will reach out to Chand’s legal representative, requesting a response timeframe of seven days; otherwise, the investigation will proceed without his input.
Shameem expressed his willingness to be interviewed and criticized the Boxing Commission of Fiji’s chairman, Adi Narayan, for attributing blame to them regarding the incident. He asserted his long-term involvement in boxing and his confidence in the knowledge of the sport’s regulations.
Ubayd Haider tragically collapsed following a ninth-round TKO loss to boxer Runqi Zhou during an IBO Asia Pacific super featherweight title fight at Prince Charles Park in Nadi on October 26. He was rushed to Zen’s Medical and later to Lautoka’s Aspen Hospital, where he underwent head surgery after falling into a coma. Unfortunately, Haider did not recover and passed away on November 10.
This ongoing inquiry highlights the seriousness of safety within the sport of boxing, reminding all stakeholders of the importance of thorough investigations to prevent tragic outcomes in the future. The extension of this inquiry could lead to a better understanding of the circumstances that led to Haider’s death, helping to ensure appropriate measures are taken to safeguard fighters in the sport moving forward.
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