Iokimi Navuasese, a talented 15-year-old boxer, dedicated his recent victory to his late coach Ubaiyd Haider, who sadly passed away earlier this month. This young athlete triumphed over Victoria’s Garrica Bonnaci by unanimous decision during a match held at the Captain Stan Brown Boxing Gym in Walu Bay, Suva.
Navuasese, who began boxing at the age of 12, emphasized the influence that Haider, who was formerly known as Nathan Singh, had on his development as a boxer. He acknowledged that Haider played a significant role in guiding and training young boxers, helping them to continue the legacy of the sport. “This fight was for my late coach, and it is dedicated to him,” Navuasese stated, reflecting on the importance of Haider’s contributions to boxing.
During the bout, Navuasese faced the challenge of competing against skilled and conditioned Australian opponents. Despite feeling fatigued by the third round, the memory of his late coach fueled his determination to finish strong, leading to a decisive point victory.
In addition to this recent win, Navuasese is already looking toward the future, setting his sights on representing Fiji in the upcoming 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. He also claimed a gold medal in the 57kg category at the 2024 Youth & Junior Oceania Boxing Championships held in Tahiti earlier this year.
The competition at Walu Bay featured 28 bouts over two days, bringing together junior and youth boxers from Australia. National coach Cam Todd noted that a team from New Zealand is scheduled to arrive in two weeks, with the Golden Gloves Championship also anticipated from December 13-14.
The ongoing support and development of young boxers like Navuasese highlights the promising future of boxing in Fiji.
Summary:
Iokimi Navuasese, a promising young boxer, recently honored his late coach Ubaiyd Haider with a unanimous decision victory over Garrica Bonnaci. Starting boxing at 12, Navuasese credits Haider’s guidance for his success. He aims to compete in the 2028 Olympics and recently won gold at the Oceania Championships. The ongoing boxing event at Walu Bay features junior and youth boxers, strengthening Fiji’s boxing community.
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