Violence broke out during the heavyweight boxing title match at Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka on Saturday night, tarnishing the reputation of professional boxing in Fiji. Adi Narayan, chairman of the Boxing Commission of Fiji (BCF), expressed his outrage, stating that the events were embarrassing for the sport.
Narayan confirmed that the BCF board will review video footage of the incident and take strict measures against those involved. The altercation began when reigning champion James ‘The Beast’ Singh struck Semi Dauloloma while both were on the canvas. This match marked their third encounter, with Dauloloma having previously knocked Singh down in the first round. As they exchanged blows in the second round, both fighters fell to the ground, and Singh delivered two punches to Dauloloma as the referee tried to intervene.
As tensions escalated, Dauloloma charged at Singh, leading to a brawl that involved punches being thrown from both corners, with one hitting a ring official. The fight was ultimately stopped and ruled a no-contest.
“That was an embarrassment for professional boxing,” Narayan stated. He acknowledged that both fighters were at fault, leading to the no-contest ruling. He emphasized that disqualification does not equate to a belt victory, calling the situation a shameful event that should not have happened.
The commission is also investigating a separate incident involving featherweight boxer Mikaele Ravolaca, who entered the ring to challenge Umbayed Haider, resulting in a heated confrontation that nearly escalated into a scuffle.
Narayan indicated that the BCF will address all incidents observed and hold a press conference to inform the public of their decisions. He mentioned that the commission is likely to convene soon to discuss the situation, with video evidence available for review.
Commenting on the conflict, Singh remarked that Dauloloma is not a true champion and dismissed the idea of a rematch. In response, Dauloloma criticized Singh’s actions during the match and expressed interest in a rematch in November if permitted, aiming for the title.