It was a swift performance in the ring for Mitieli Navuasese of the Haider Fighting club as he overpowered Josh Clarke of Australia to win gold in the sub-junior under-15 58-60kg category at the International Tri-Nations amateur boxing competition on Saturday.
Navuasese demonstrated a commitment to pace and agility while Clarke countered his stance with well-placed landings of his own.
After the bout where he fought from the blue corner, he shared his sentiments on the win, after contesting his red corner Aussie opponent.
“I’m really happy, and it’s the fruits of the training I have been working on for quite some time and it got me the gold medal and I’m extremely happy,” Navuasese said.
When asked how he regarded his opponent Clarke in the ring, he acknowledged the strength shown by him in the ring.
“Yes, he was a very strong competitor too but I’m happy that I won it,” he added.
As he celebrated the spoils of his labour, he remarked training himself for the regional meet was a unique process.
“I had gone through a different preparation process since I knew it would be the Tri-Nations and we were told to work hard.”
“The only challenge was losing weight and sticking to a diet, eating smaller meals.”
The champion took up amateur boxing while in primary school at St Agnes Primary School in Nabua, Suva.
Now a student at Marist Brothers High School in Flagstaff, he said his personal development within the sport had evolved since then.
“I could see the changes from when I began and now, there’s been a bit of improvement in that.”
Navuasese was among the many young Fijian amateur boxers who contested at the competition, which ended on Saturday.
Mitieli Navuasese (in blue trunks) lunges a blow at Josh Clarke of Australia in the sub-junior under-15 58-60kg category bout during the International Tri-Nations amateur boxing competition at the FMF Gymnasium in Suva on Saturday. Picture: VEREIMI WARA
