Much has been said about the “fight for credibility” at Prince Charles Park in Nadi on December 12 where heavyweight champion, Petero Qica, failed to enter the ring against challenger Napoleon Taumoepeau.
This was a title fight for the Fiji heavyweight crown, the most prized possession in local boxing. Legends like Atunaisa Camaibau, Sakiusa Cawaru, Leweni Waqa, Filimone Naliva, Sunia Cama, Niko Degei, Mitieli Navuilawa, Jo Ravudi, etc had once donned that belt. There was a time when almost every boxing program had heavyweights in the main bout. Promoter Abdul Khan is clearly guided by this.
That program in Nadi was very well planned. We had a heavyweight title fight as main bout, a grudge match (Wahid Khan vs Siliveni Nawai) as the main supporting bout and a number of intriguing match-ups in the lead-up. To spice it up further, Petero Qica had been Sunia Cama’s protégé and he also hails from Yadrana, Lakeba in Lau. So all was set for a big night out at Nadi.
Unfortunately, Qica failed to take the ring and the public was left angry, frustrated and wondering what had happened. I have been asked by a number of fans who saw me at Nadi to put my thoughts on paper and this is my take on that fight fiasco.
Qica vs Taumoepeau
This was a fight that had to happen as Napoleon had clearly been setting himself up to make the challenge. Qica, in the meantime, had become a soldier and gone inactive over the past four years. He had also declined to take up earlier challenges from Taumoepeau. When Qica finally did sign the fight contract, it was time for a heavyweight slug-fest for the fans after a long wait.
Qica was also given special dispensation from the military to prepare for the fight. In the lead-up to fight night, there were a number of interviews and newspaper reports about preparations from both camps. Photos were splashed across the pages and Qica was even seen with his family who he said were going to be driving him from ringside.
One day before the fight, Qica declared he was ready and tipped the scales at 130kg. That should have piqued fight officials, it didn’t. Qica also declared right there that this was a “fight for credibility”. He was obviously ready. Taumoepeau was a trim 101kg at weigh-in. Any observer would have seen the absolute focus in one and the lack of it in the other right there.
On fight night, Boxing Commission of Fiji’s Usman Lale assured the public at the outset “all” boxers were at the park except one who was “on his way”. As the program proceeded, we began to notice it was being slowed down. Then we were given a “break” to freshen up. Again it appeared like we were evidently waiting for either something or someone.
Finally at close to 11pm, Lale announced that he had “two medical certificates” and that some things were in “God’s hands”. He rambled around with his explanations for quite a while until one of the boxers told me that Qica was a “no show”. If Lale did mention a “pulled muscle”, I doubt anybody heard it clearly. The fight was off!
What intrigues me is why Qica failed to show good sportsmanship by entering the ring and personally addressing the crowd. I remember back in the 1990s when Shah’s Boxing Promotions was big in Fiji, I (as ring announcer) had worked the crowd up as soon as I entered the ring telling them about the “war” that was to be the main bout between Mosese Sorovi and Asomua Naea (Taione Naea’s brother).
As we waited in the crackling environment for the two pugilists to make their way to the ring, Fiji Boxing Council’s Bob Nair handed me a note saying Naea was sick. I knew mayhem was almost bursting at the seams at the National Gymnasium, so I told him to get Naea into the ring no matter what. I then went to Sorovi and told him the fight was off and we needed him to stay focused.
Naea came in with his entourage and as both corners faced the crowd, I told them that we had an important announcement to make. That triggered outbursts, but the police and officials were able to control it as we promised that the fight would take place later and that Naea was obviously sick — this could be seen by fans. I guess I have to add that it was extremely uncomfortable in the ring while the moment lasted and we tried to “manage” the situation.
Qica should have done the same and faced the crowd like a true champion. There are more questions: why did he turn up for the weigh-in if he had told the promoter he was not well one week before the fight? Why did he demand money from promoter Abdul Khan at the weigh-in? Why was he 130kg at weigh-in? This is not the type of weight expected of one his size — 100-105kg would have been more like it.
This brings focus to the role of Boxing Commission of Fiji.
Boxing Commission
of Fiji (BCF)
BCF runs boxing in Fiji and has been instrumental in bringing about numerous changes to ensure that boxing is free of unscrupulous practices and exploitation. For this program, they would have been visiting boxers with the promoters to ensure that all was going to plan. Did they monitor Petero Qica? Or did they expect the military to do that anyway since he is a soldier? This is the root of the problem — failure to monitor.
There were a few other things about BCF officiating that need pointing out. One, the ring announcer must be allowed to do his job. If he is not good enough, train him or get another one. But the announcing must be left to the ring announcer.
Two, scoring by the judges left a lot to be desired. In one of the bouts, there were two knockdowns (ie two 10-8 rounds), but none of the final scores showed the four point difference. Ronald Naidu clearly out-maneuvered and out-fought Johnny Singh, but two judges scored it a draw and Naidu could only shake his head. In the best fight of the night, Irfaan Khan defied all predictions and totally overwhelmed Krishna Mudaliar, but his dominance was not visible on the scorecards.
I also believe Krishna Mudaliar was more than 5kg heavier than Bones Khan. If that was really the case, fight officials might need a rethink. Refocusing on the fight itself, Bones brought in an array of punches — hooks, upper-cuts, body blows, round houses — that is missing too often in our boxers because of shortcomings in coaching. We must see more of Bones and Razor!
Khan vs Nawai
This was a grudge match and Wahid should have prepared better for it. It stood up to its billing for the four rounds that it lasted, but I could see the loss of zap in Wahid’s punches by the middle of the fourth stanza. The towel was the right decision for him. But he is a warrior and warriors must be allowed to go out with dignity.
Nawai did not allow this and punched him repeatedly as he sat on his stool, a tired and winded veteran who had given so much to boxing over the years. This was not only lack of sportsmanship at its worst, but thuggery in the ring. Nawai has a lot of potential, but he has to be punished for bringing disrepute into the haloed boxing ring.
News reporting
I have said this before and repeat it here; sports and reporting have a symbiotic relationship — both rely on each other. It’s the same with boxing. I was so heartened to see that both our newspapers and TV followed and provided coverage to the Nadi program. They have been doing the same for Labasa.
Boxing needs to “pull” the crowd and news reports go a long way in assisting in this regard. More on the Krishna Mudaliar vs Irfaan Khan, Jovesa Vaileba vs Simon Peter Whippy, Johnny Singh vs Ronald Naidu fights would have helped greatly. There were names like: Naliva, Vocea, Iliave Bose and Kavika on that program. Surely this would have provided “spin” for the scribes as these were off-spring of legends.
With that I end my contribution. Until the next one — sa moce mada.
* Known as the “encyclopedia of boxing in Fiji”, Subhash Appana has been involved with the sport in various capacities over the years. The opinions expressed are his alone and he can be contacted on appana_s@usp.ac.fj.
