The Samoa Boxing team has brought home the Governor’s Cup after winning the American Samoa Flag Day 2018 Championship Boxing last weekend.

The six-member boxing team was overjoyed after a four-year drought of coming home empty handed. 

Their coach, Muaava Ericson Afitu, was very proud of his fighters and said to the media in American Samoa after the competition: “They exceeded all my expectations and did well for a small team. 

“There were all sorts of emotions going through my head as the team headed into the final bouts. They dug deep and we are really happy, pleased to get the opportunity to get our hands on the trophy.”

Secretary for the team, Gebauer Falefitu said to the Samoa Observer that it has been 10 years since Samoa has been competing in the competition and that they were excited to bring the cup home after hard long hours of training.

“This year was awesome, the management and the whole team were very excited on the efforts that we put in when we were in American Samoa.” 

“It’s amazing that we bring the cup back. The boys worked hard for this and they put in the effort.

“We spend two weeks preparing for the fight. It was so hard for them because the first thing that we aimed for is their fitness and physics, their skills and combination is there, but we are working hard to put it all together so that we could have a good match.”

The team is made up of boxers from Tumua ma Puleono Aiga Fealofani Ring. The team shows no signs for slowing down as they get back into weekly fighting competitions.  

Falefitu wants to invite all interested boxers to train with them at the Plantation gym every Saturday starting this week.

I’d like to call up all the fighters out there. We are going to start a boxing competition every Saturday starting this week because there is another huge competition that is going to start in June. It’s good for our fighters to come and join us.”

The annual American Flag Day competition drew in a crowd of 200 people this year. 

Team:  

64kg Joe Falesi (Falefa) Gold

69kg Alaga Afitu (Ma’asina, Fagaloa) Gold

75kg Tasitone Lafao (Tapueleele, Sataoa) Gold

81kg John Ailao (Vaiusu, Falelatai) Gold

81 kg Faamanu Aukuso (Fa’ala, Tapueleele) Gold

91 kg Faopito Tupito (Vailuatai) Gold