Three International Boxing Organisation (IBO) Asia Pacific titles will be up for grabs at the South Pacific Boxing Promotions event next month. Adi Narayan, chairman of the Boxing Commission of Fiji (BCF), announced at a launch event that the program has received endorsement from IBO Australia.
Scheduled for October 26 at Prince Charles Park in Nadi, the event will feature a local title fight, along with other local matches, including a women’s bout. Notably, it will mark the first time siblings will compete for international titles, with Sebastian Singh facing “King” Tonga Tongotongo for the IBO Asia Pacific cruiserweight title, while his younger brother Ubayd Haider will take on China’s Runqi Zhou for the IBO Asia Pacific featherweight title.
The third title fight will showcase Winston Hill against Lachlan O’Shea for the super welterweight title. Narayan expressed the uniqueness of this event, highlighting the opportunities for local boxers to demonstrate their skills on an international platform.
Additionally, Hill’s brother, Jonathan Pedro Hill, will contend with Siliveni Nawai for the Fijian super middleweight title, and the fifth match will feature Jese Ravudi competing against Vanuatu’s Roy Ser. Narayan praised promoter Freddy Chand and director Mohammed Shameem for their efforts in making this event a reality.
Chand emphasized that this event would create new opportunities for local boxers, specifically highlighting the women’s match between Amo Wai and Maureen Chand, which will determine who earns a fight in England. He noted that if Winston Hill wins, he will be closer to receiving a world title shot granted by IBO.
Chand assured fans that security measures will be strict following an incident at Lawaqa Park last month. He urged boxing clubs and boxers to ensure their trainers are registered with the BCF. Only four individuals will be permitted in the ring during fights: one boxer, two trainers, and a cornerman, provided he holds a valid BCF license.
Chand reiterated the importance of team registration and reassured attendees that 30 private security personnel and 25 police officers will be present at the event. Additionally, an international IBO referee will be available to assist local referees and officials.