A row has been ignited in boxing with the Samoa Boxing Federation saying there is only one recognised boxing association in Samoa and no successor has been appointed yet for the late Lionel Fatupaito.

Last week a new boxing body called Independent Boxing Samoa announced their national coach and said they were taking boxers to an international tournament and announced the appointment of Steven Faoagali as the national coach.

SBF President Tagaloatele Papalii Poloa said they are the rightful body that is recognised by the government and the international parent body.

He said only they had the mandate to take national boxers and be recognised in international tournaments.

Tagaloatele said the newly established association is yet to make any appearance in tournaments. 

"There are some members of our federation who joined them, and they have selected Steven as their coach. We are not sure what the conditions or policies they have but for us the rules and accreditations that we follow are the IBA's," he said. 

The Vice President, Tofilau Faafouina Milford shared the same sentiment as Tagaloatele. He said he was quite surprised to see the appointment of Steven Faoagali as he understands they have not decided on anything yet.

"We are quite shocked with the appointment. But to shed some light on this, there is only one boxing association which is the Samoa Boxing Federation," he said. 

"We are doing boxing tournaments, and we also select teams that are going to international tournaments like the team that went to Tahiti. We selected boxers who are now competing in Puerto Rico where our national team is and our Samoa head coach. 

"Our national head coach was Lionel Fatupaito, who passed away. No one has been selected for this position by the parent body. The selection of a head coach is decided by the executives. Now that Lionel has passed away, we have selected Sam as a head coach to take team Samoa there."

"We have a lot of national coaches in clubs, boxing rings and so forth. But when it's time to select our national team, after we select our boxers then we select a head coach to take the team overseas. His responsibility will be looking after the boxers and training them. 

"We select someone who has the qualification and fully accredited, and has a Star 1 rating. Sam already has a Star 1 so he can take the team, because without a star you cannot go to the corner."

He mentioned that Steven attended a Pacific Game as Ato Plodzicki-Faoagali's coach but could not be at the corner as he had no star rating. According to the boxing policies a coach cannot be at the corner if he does not have a star. 

"The Pacific Games that Steven attended, he went as a coach but could not go to the corner because he doesn't have a star. So, it was Lionel Fatupaito.

"But in terms of our team Samoa coach, it will have to be someone who stays. It is suitable for Steven to coach his son because they are living together overseas. But we cannot have a coach who lives overseas and boxers train here in Samoa."

The newly established Independent Boxing Samoa was formed on 19 August 2024. The president is Tavui Mikaele Lemisio, Vice President is Papalii Tuna Tusiata, and General secretary is Opeta Ta'avao. 

Independent Boxing Samoa has prepared a team to represent Samoa at the World  Boxing Competition held in Sheffield England next month. The team will be coached by Steven Faoagali, and the boxers are Jancen Poutoa (80kg), Saliuafi Tuautu (75kg) and  Orrin Kingi (92kg).