The Board of Inquiry (BOI) report regarding the tragic death of featherweight boxer Ubayd Haider has been described as a ‘preliminary’ report by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Jese Saukuru. In a statement to SUNsports, Saukuru emphasized that the report is not final, as the inquiry has yet to interview Freddy Chand, the promoter for South Pacific Boxing Promotions, who is currently based in Sydney, Australia.
Saukuru noted that Chand has referred the inquiry to his lawyer, Roopesh Singh, and that the BOI intends to conduct an interview with Chand today, alongside his lawyer. This step is crucial for gathering comprehensive information on the circumstances surrounding Haider’s death.
Last week, BOI leader Edwin Wainqolo indicated that the committee has gathered sufficient documentation to form initial conclusions. He also expressed the challenge of reaching out to Chand due to unforeseen travel restrictions but reassured that he would still have the opportunity to present his side to the inquiry.
Ubayd Haider tragically collapsed following his ninth-round TKO loss to Runqi Zhou of Australia during the IBO Asia Pacific super featherweight title match on October 26 of last year. He was taken to Lautoka Aspen Hospital for emergency head surgery but sadly passed away on November 10.
Minister Saukuru reiterated that the document he received remains preliminary and that further investigation is ongoing.
This situation underscores the importance of thorough investigations in sports to ensure that necessary facts are uncovered to prevent future tragedies. As the BOI continues its work, there is hope that the inquiry will provide clarity and potentially lead to improvements in safety measures in boxing and other combat sports.
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