Two heavyweight boxers have had their boxing licenses suspended for four months by the Boxing Commission of Fiji. The decision came after an incident during a match at Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka between Fiji heavyweight champion James ‘The Beast’ Singh and Semi Dauloloma, which led Minister of Youth and Sports Jese Saukuru to express his disappointment and call for action.
BCF chairman Adi Narayan described the event as a disgrace to the sport after a meeting with the Minister. At a press conference, Narayan stated his concern over the incident, highlighting that such behavior is unacceptable in professional boxing. He emphasized that both boxers, as champions, should have demonstrated better sportsmanship.
Singh is currently the heavyweight champion, while Dauloloma holds the Leweni Waqa Memorial heavyweight belt. The suspension will be effective for the next four months, allowing both fighters to start afresh in 2025. Narayan remarked that this decision aims to send a strong message to all boxers regarding appropriate conduct in the ring.
The incident that led to the suspension occurred during their third match when Singh struck Dauloloma while both were on the canvas. In the first round, Singh was knocked down by a hook from Dauloloma. During the second round, as Dauloloma cornered Singh, they both fell to the canvas amidst a flurry of punches. Singh landed two blows on Dauloloma while the referee attempted to separate them. Chaos ensued as tempers flared, leading to an altercation involving the corner men, which resulted in a punch that struck a ring official. The match was ultimately halted and declared a no-contest, with Singh retaining his title.