Fiji boxers stamp their mark on the global stage

Fiji boxing has reached a historic milestone with the participation of two boxers at the 2023 World Boxing Championship in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Lightweight (57-60kg), Mikaele Ravalaca Junior, and featherweight (54-57kg), Jone Davule Koroilagilagi, are the first Fijian boxers to compete at the global event.

Mikaele lost his first bout in a close points decision against seasoned Spaniard Samuel Carmona.

While Jone defeated Luckmore Kamoto of Zimbabwe in their lightweight bout, winning 5-0 on points.

He is now in the top 12 of world amateur boxing and is possible to get into the medal playoffs if he wins his next fight today.

Fiji Amateur Boxing Association (FABA) president and chairman Manasa Baravilala told RNZ Pacific the duos performances augur well for Fiji Boxing going into the Pacific Games in Solomon Islands in November.

"The two boxers have become the first boxers from Fiji to fight at the World Championships. Mikaele was the first to fight for Fiji and he lost a close bout to an opponent from Spain who had fought over 200 bouts by close split points decision," Baravilala said.

"Jone won his first fight and has advanced into the round of 16 and is now ranked in the top 12 of his weight category. He is now into the second round and has the opportunity to create history again."

"We had our targets on sending the two to the world champs and that is working out," he added.

Coach Cameron Todd said the pair have surprised him.

"They have both done well and I am happy with the way they have handled things here," he told RNZ Pacific.

"Their opponents were much more experienced and Jone has the chance to win a second bout here. Very happy with what I have seen from them."

Fiji Boxing sets target

The World Champs results is a positive for Fiji boxing and Baravilala said it helps with their plans to returning to dominance at the Honiara Games, where they had dominated in the past.

Work on the Games target continues with the recruitment of New Zealand coach Todd and growing interest locally.

"For so long, we had dominated boxing in previous Pacific Games," he said.

He said Fijian boxers have not been up to scratch recently and there was a lot of expectation this time, adding "it is timely that we have our first international coach in Fiji in Todd."

"He is going to be based here and be the first fulltime national coach for Fiji."

"We have prepared a squad for the Pacific Games and have a number of competitions coming up with teams from Australia and New Zealand, plus our own local competition. We are very keen to make amends at the 2023 Pacific Games."

Todd is a well-known and respected New Zealand coach and trainer, with many successes under his name, including training Samoan-New Zealand for world heavyweight boxer David Tua.

Baravilala said future development plans includes getting in boxers at a younger age, with FABA sending a team to Samoa, made up of 15 to 17-year-olds this month to compete at the Oceania Boxing Championship.

He said overseas boxers always had an advantage over their Fijian opponents because they start early in boxing and have over 200 bouts under their belt by the time they turn 19-years-old.

Baravilala believes it is important for Fijian boxers to gain the exposure early like their counterparts from Australia and New Zealand.

FABA now runs a competitive competition at the Commodore Stan Brown Gym in Walu Bay in Suva.

"We have a lot of interest now and there is a rise in clubs and competition, with around 25 to 30 bouts a day in our competition," he said.

"We have boxers coming from Ra, Ba, Sigatoka and we are also now setting up a branch of the association in the Western Division. We are happy with where we are and we look forward to the Pacific Games."

And with history already created, Baravilala and his team hopes they will be able to add to that in Honiara.