Marist revives amateur boxing program
The future of boxing is looking bright.
As more organizations come to support the development of boxing in Samoa, athletes can only get better with more exposure to the sport.
On Friday, Marist concluded their monthly boxing tournament at the Marist boxing club in Lotopa.
This boxing tournament is part of a larger initiative to develop the sport in Samoa and give athletes an opportunity to compete in the ring.
The participants ranged from age 7-22, fighting in their own respective weight brackets and hail from different clubs throughout Upolu such as Marist, Plantation Boxing Gym, Sua ma Pauga and others.
Tavui Mika Lemisio, the tournament coordinator commented on the tournament’s success in developing boxers. He stated, “Marist is doing well, every month we have a competition to ensure that we showcase our academy and expose them to fighting. It’s part of the development and we’re looking to build every year.”
“We have an academy, we train daily from 4-6. We have two coaches, Lionel Fatupaito, he’s a former representative for Samoa. He’s also in the Samoa Amateur Boxing Association committee (S.A.B.A).”
This competition is part of a journey to develop boxers for the main regional event that will take place next year that will feature boxers from neighboring islands.
Lemisio elaborates, “The main competition will take place next year in February, this is part of a small competition that leads up to the Marist one. We do have teams confirmed from Tonga whereby 6 boxers are coming next year. We have a Pago team that’s also confirmed and we’re waiting for Fiji.”
“This is part of our long term planning in our strategic plan for Marist sports club reform. We’re building up the sport , as part of our strategic plan within the next five years ,to ensure that we can bring up the sport in the national , regional and international level. We want to ensure that we have kids that can box in the top level.”
Winners:
29kg Midget Daniel Alofipo
(Sailimalo)
32kg Mosqi Jr Mose Iapesa
(Plantation)
52kg Fly weight Ioane Pao
(Sailimalo)
56kg Bantam Weight
Seanoa Hall (PLT Toamua)
60 Kg Light Weight
Jason Wulf (Sailimalo)
64kg Light welter
Christian Titi (Aisa)
75kg Middle weight
Salvation Lakifilipo (aisa)
75kg Middle Weight
Michael Enefatu (Aisa)
75kg Middle weight Sale Ataga
(Aisa)
81kg light heavy
Uluaipou Ioane (Aveavai)
91kg Heavy weight
Tauati Tumanu (Aveavai)
91+kg Super Heavy
Kereta Tavita (PLT Toamua)
69kg welter weight Kaisa Ioane
(PLT Toamua)
(91+kg super Heavy
Vaisilika Tuigamala
( PLT Toamua)