Next month, three International Boxing Organisation (IBO) Asia Pacific titles will be up for grabs at a boxing event organized by the South Pacific Boxing Promotions. Adi Narayan, chairman of the Boxing Commission of Fiji (BCF), confirmed the event’s endorsement by IBO Australia during its launch.
Scheduled for October 26 at Prince Charles Park in Nadi, the event will also include a local title fight and various local matches, including a women’s bout. Notably, this will mark the first occasion that siblings will compete for international titles; Sebastian Singh will face “King” Tonga Tongotongo for the IBO Asia Pacific cruiserweight title, while his younger brother Ubayd Haider takes on China’s Runqi Zhou for the IBO Asia Pacific featherweight title.
Additionally, Winston Hill will compete against Lachlan O’Shea for the super welterweight title. Narayan stated, “This is a one-off occasion; I can’t recall if this has happened in the last three years,” emphasizing the significance of the event for local boxers to showcase their skills at an international level.
Jonathan Pedro Hill, the brother of Winston Hill, will challenge Siliveni Nawai for the Fijian super middleweight title. Another match will feature Jese Ravudi against Vanuatu’s Roy Ser. Narayan expressed gratitude to promoter Freddy Chand and director Mohammed Shameem for facilitating this event.
Chand mentioned that these fights will create new opportunities for local boxers, including women. The outcome of the women’s match between Amo Wai and Maureen Chand will determine who receives a boxing opportunity in England.
“If Winston Hill wins this fight, he’ll be granted a world title shot by the IBO, bringing him closer to one of the three belts at stake,” Chand added. He assured fans and families that strict security measures will be in place to prevent incidents similar to those that occurred at Lawaqa Park last month.
Chand urged boxing clubs and trainers to ensure their registration with the BCF, stating that only one boxer, two trainers, and a cart man with a BCF license will be allowed in the ring. He reiterated that security would not be an issue, as 30 private security personnel and 25 police officers will be present at the venue. An international IBO referee will also assist local referees and officials during the matches.