Three International Boxing Organisation (IBO) Asia Pacific titles will be contested next month at the South Pacific Boxing Promotions event. Adi Narayan, chairman of the Boxing Commission of Fiji (BCF), confirmed the program’s endorsement by IBO Australia during its launch yesterday.
The event is scheduled for October 26 at Prince Charles Park in Nadi and will feature a local title fight along with additional local matches, including a women’s bout. Notably, it will mark the first time siblings will compete for international titles, with Sebastian Singh facing “King” Tonga Tongotongo for the IBO Asia Pacific cruiserweight title, while his younger brother Ubayd Haider will compete against China’s Runqi Zhou for the IBO Asia Pacific featherweight title.
In another highlight, Winston Hill will take on Lachlan O’Shea for the super welterweight title. Narayan noted, “This is a one-off occasion; I can’t recall if this has happened in the last three years.” He emphasized that this event presents a significant opportunity for local boxers to showcase their talents on an international platform.
Additionally, Hill’s brother, Jonathan Pedro Hill, will challenge Siliveni Nawai for the Fijian super middleweight title, and there will also be a match between Jese Ravudi and Vanuatu’s Roy Ser. Narayan expressed gratitude to promoter Freddy Chand and director Mohammed Shameem for facilitating this event.
Chand highlighted that these matches will create new opportunities for local boxers, including women. The outcome of the women’s fight between Amo Wai and Maureen Chand will determine which fighter secures a match in England. He added, “If Winston Hill wins this one, he’ll be given a world title shot that has been granted by IBO, putting him a step closer.”
To ensure safety, Chand assured boxing fans that tight security measures would be in place during the event, addressing concerns raised after a recent incident at Lawaqa Park. He urged boxing clubs and fighters to ensure that their trainers are registered with BCF.
“Only four individuals will be allowed in the ring: one boxer, two trainers, plus a cornerman if licensed with BCF. If a boxer doesn’t have registered trainers, they must enter with someone who is registered, so it’s essential to get your team registered,” he explained. Chand also confirmed the presence of 30 private security personnel and 25 police officers at the venue, along with an international IBO referee assisting local officials.