Fiji’s amateur boxing campaign opened in emphatic fashion at the Pacific Nations Competition staged at the FMF Gymnasium in Suva over the weekend, with the home side asserting dominance against a strong regional field as preparations ramp up for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Under head coach Cam Todd, Fiji outpointed visiting teams and left the tournament buoyed by performances across several weight divisions.
“It was a really good tournament,” Todd said. “I was really happy with my team. Overall Fiji won the points, which was very good considering how strong the different nations were.” The event brought seven Pacific nations to Suva — one of the largest amateur boxing gatherings Fiji has hosted in recent memory — providing timely competitive rounds for the country’s Commonwealth Games representatives and younger boxers alike.
Fiji’s sole female Games representative, Jasmie Daunakamakama, turned heads by moving above her usual division to compete in both the 60kg and 65kg categories. Daunakamakama defeated a Papua New Guinea opponent in the 60kg class before stepping up again to the 65kg division, where she produced a second emphatic victory over another PNG rival. Her ability to adapt and finish bouts across two weight classes was highlighted as a major positive ahead of Glasgow.
In the men’s ranks, Aminisasi Saratibau reinforced his standing as one of Fiji’s leading medal prospects with two clinical wins in the 80kg division. Saratibau needed just one round to dispatch his Papua New Guinea opponent in the opening bout, using powerful combinations and sharp counters, then followed up with another stoppage in the second round against a determined Samoan challenger. Those finishes underlined his readiness for higher-level competition.
Todd also pointed to promising showings from Fiji’s youth and junior boxers who were given the chance to test themselves on a bigger stage. “Some of our youth and junior boxers who have been working with us had some good results as well,” he said, noting the depth emerging beneath the senior contingent. The mix of experienced Commonwealth hopefuls and up-and-coming talent was cited as a positive sign for the program’s development.
With seven nations in attendance and competitive match-ups across the card, the Pacific Nations Competition offered a useful benchmark for Fiji’s boxing program. The results — particularly the decisive wins by Daunakamakama and Saratibau — have given coach Todd and his squad momentum as they fine-tune plans ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow later this year. The weekend’s performances suggested Fiji will head to the international stage with both confidence and a deeper pool of fighters ready to step up.
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