Unbeaten heavyweight Teremoana Junior pulled off a convincing first-round victory over Fiji’s James “The Beast” Singh at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia, on Saturday night. The fight concluded quickly, with the referee stopping the match just 2 minutes and 12 seconds in, citing that Singh was clearly outmatched. Singh, who took the fight on short notice of two weeks, started strong by holding his ground initially, but Teremoana leveraged his height advantage to deliver powerful punches, eventually leading to the technical knockout.
Despite the swift end to the bout, many spectators expressed dissatisfaction with the quick stoppage. However, the referee acted decisively, recognizing Teremoana’s significant dominance in the ring. With this victory, Teremoana remains unbeaten with a perfect record of seven wins, all by knockout, while Singh’s record now stands at 12 wins against seven losses.
“I want to keep fighting, and I’m ready to take on anyone who steps into the ring with me,” Teremoana stated after the match. As a gold medallist at the 2023 Pacific Games held in the Solomon Islands, he has qualified to compete for Australia in the super heavyweight division at the upcoming 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. During his Olympic debut, he previously faced Ukraine’s Dmytro Lovchynyski, winning that bout via knockout.
Teremoana’s aspirations extend beyond the Olympics; he is now focused on pursuing the world heavyweight championship title, stating, “We’re taking it one step at a time, but I’ll carry the flag for Australia and the Cook Islands to the world stage.”
The fight was promoted by Matchroom Boxing, led by Eddie Hearn, who had hoped Singh would provide a challenge for Teremoana. In a statement posted on social media, Singh expressed gratitude for the opportunity but acknowledged that it wasn’t his night. He also called for government support for boxing in Fiji, emphasizing the importance of nurturing young talent to secure future world title fights.
Though the outcome was disappointing for Singh, this bout serves as both a challenge and a learning experience, reinforcing the tough nature of the sport. Many athletes face similar setbacks, yet they often lead to greater resilience and determination. As he prepares for potential future matches, there remains a sense of hope for Singh’s recovery and success in the ring. The boxing community’s support and enthusiasm could serve as a motivating force for his comeback journey.
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