Three International Boxing Organisation (IBO) Asia Pacific titles will be up for grabs at the South Pacific Boxing Promotions event scheduled for next month. Adi Narayan, the chairman of the Boxing Commission of Fiji (BCF), announced at the event’s launch yesterday that the program has received approval from IBO Australia.
The boxing event is set to take place on October 26 at Prince Charles Park in Nadi. It will include a local title fight as well as various local matches, featuring a women’s bout as part of the lineup.
In a noteworthy first, two brothers will compete for international titles during the event. Sebastian Singh will face “King” Tonga Tongotongo for the IBO Asia Pacific cruiserweight title, while his younger sibling Ubayd Haider will take on China’s Runqi Zhou for the IBO Asia Pacific featherweight title. Additionally, Winston Hill and Lachlan O’Shea will compete for the IBO Asia Pacific super welterweight title.
“This is a rare opportunity; I can’t remember the last time something like this happened in the last three years,” Narayan stated. He emphasized that this event allows local boxers to showcase their talents on an international stage.
In other matchups, Hill’s brother Jonathan Pedro Hill will challenge Siliveni Nawai for the Fijian super middleweight title, and Jese Ravudi is set to fight Vanuatu’s Roy Ser. Narayan expressed gratitude towards promoter Freddy Chand and director Mohammed Shameem for their contributions in making this event a reality.
Chand highlighted that these fights could open new opportunities for local boxers, including female athletes. The outcome of the women’s match between Amo Wai and Maureen Chand will determine who will secure a fight in England.
“If Winston Hill wins this fight, he will be offered a shot at the world title granted by IBO, bringing him one step closer,” Chand noted. He assured boxing fans and families that security will be stringent during the event to prevent incidents similar to those that occurred at Lawaqa Park last month.
Chand also encouraged boxing clubs and boxers to ensure their trainers are registered with BCF. “Only four people will be allowed in the ring; one boxer, two trainers, and a cornerman if he is licensed with BCF. If a boxer does not have registered trainers, he will compete with someone who is registered, so it’s essential to get your team registered.”
He confirmed that there will be 30 private security personnel and 25 police officers present to ensure safety, along with the support of an international IBO referee assisting local officials.