Iokimi Navuasese has dedicated his recent victory to his late coach, Ubaiyd Haider, who tragically passed away earlier this month. The talented 15-year-old secured a unanimous decision win over Victoria’s Garica Bonnaci during a match held at the Captain Stan Brown Boxing Gym in Walu Bay, Suva.
Navuasese, hailing from Nasoqo, Naitasiri, embarked on his boxing journey at the age of 12, initially trained by Haider’s father, Gyan Singh. He expressed deep gratitude for his late coach’s influence, saying, “This fight was for my late coach Ubaiyd Haider, and it is dedicated to him. He contributed so much to boxing and mentoring young athletes like me.”
Despite feeling a lack of fitness compared to his Australian opponent, Navuasese relied on his boxing intelligence to secure the victory. “I knew I had won the first two rounds on points, but by the third round, I was feeling tired. The thought of my late coach fueled my determination to complete the fight,” he shared.
Looking ahead, Navuasese aims to represent Fiji at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. He also previously achieved the title of gold medallist in the 57kg category at the 2024 Youth & Junior Oceania Boxing Championships in Tahiti this past July.
The ongoing competition at Walu Bay features 28 bouts across various junior and youth categories, involving boxers from Victoria, Australia. It is part of a two-day international event set to conclude today at the Nausori District School ground. National coach Cam Todd announced that a New Zealand team will arrive in two weeks, followed by the Golden Gloves Championship scheduled for December 13-14.
As the event continues, it highlights not only the talent of young boxers in the region but also their resilience and commitment to honoring those who have paved the way for them, like coach Haider.
Summary: Iokimi Navuasese, a promising 15-year-old boxer, dedicated his recent victory to his late coach, Ubaiyd Haider. He won against Garica Bonnaci in Suva and aims to represent Fiji at the 2028 Olympics. The ongoing international boxing competition features young talents from Australia and aims to build a strong future for boxing in the region.
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