Trainer Saimoni Taudomo emphasizes that boxing is not a sport where you can simply pull someone from obscurity and expect them to compete professionally, using an analogy of no one being picked from a cassava patch to fight. Taudomo, a former boxer, argues against a boxer who, according to Boxrec, has five professional fights and 23 rounds but no amateur boxing experience.
Taudomo deems this practice as disrespectful to many boxers who have devoted considerable time to amateur boxing. He views it as problematic, referring to the FABA’s refusal to release its boxers. Taudomo insists there should be no shortcuts, stating that not everyone will represent Fiji in the amateur field.
This current procedure is damaging the sport, leading to clear mismatches in some games. Taudomo goes so far as to claim that some professional bouts are so uninspiring, one might as well bring a pillow and blanket.
Insisting on a change, Taudomo believes boxing needs to provide an established pathway for amateur boxers to rejuvenate the sport. That way, when these boxers are ready, they will be well-equipped for the professional arena.
Taudomo points out that the real quality in boxing can be found at the amateur level. These athletes demonstrated a higher level of performance, timing, rhythm, and demonstrated their familiarity with speed punches. Taudomo concludes by noting, a lot of professional boxers do not have amateur fights likely due to ignorance of such a progression path and hopes this system can be implemented to make up for their lack of skills and techniques.
Requests for comments sent to the BCF via email have yet to be answered. The original article can be read on The Fiji Times.