THERE was high drama during the Wild West Boxing Promotions program at Prince Charles Park in Nadi on Saturday with professional boxing receiving another bad name.
As the night wore on, the organisers tried to prolong the program and this is when rumours started to grow among boxing fans that the main Fiji heavyweight title bout betweem Petero Qica Jr and Napoleon Taumoepeau was in jeopardy.
There were meetings held among promotion organisers and the Boxing Commission of Fiji executives. Then challenger Napoleon Taumoepeau’s camp held discussions with the BFC executives and were seemingly disappointed with the outcome.
It was then evident that surely the fight was not on. As BCF wstern director Usman Ali made his way to the ringside, one fan stood up and yelled “Just tell us that the main bout is not on.”
Ali called promoter Abdul Khan and Taumoepeau into the ring.
Then a call was made to title holder Petero Qica Jr to come up, but he was nowhere to be seen.
His manager William Ubitau finally appeared. Ali said it was a sad announcement, it was not in our hands and it was an unforeseen circumstance.
“I have two medical certificates for Petero who has sustained a pulled muscle,” he said.
“The BCF appointed an independent doctor to check him.”
As the announcement was being made, there was a lot of booing, yelling and verbal abuse hurled by angry fans. Some even demanded for a refund. Ubitau conveyed Qica Jr’s humble apologies.
“Petero has a pulled muscle, he is around but cannot walk out of the car,” the manager added. Then Taumoepeau took the microphone and he was greeted with a cheer.
“I trained very hard for this fight,” he said.
“I was at the Suva Private Hospital on Thursday night feeling sick. It was a chest infection but I turned up for the fight.”
Many of the 2000 fans left the arena after the announcement disappointed.
In an interview later, Taumoepeau said Qica Jr had been avoiding him since 2013.
“I have been hearing this all week, that he was going to pull out at the last minute,” Taumoepeau said.
“This man has been dodging me since 2013 and I don’t understand how he can still be the heavyweight champion of Fiji.
“He should not be even the champion. I’m the number one ranked boxer on www.boxrec.com.
“I’m the number one heavyweight fighter in Fiji. Petero hasn’t fought since 2011 but is still the champion.
“I have fought four times and he hasn’t fought any.”
Taumoepeau said he was ready to fight anyone.
“The heavyweight title should be vacant,” he said.
“I saw Petero today (Saturday), he was jogging but then pulls out at the last minute.
“Why did he come to the weigh in, weighing 130kg, when he fights at 105kg,” Taumoepeau questioned.
“He did not even train. I’m always in shape but I came in 5kg less in this fight.
“Why did he come in 30kg heavy? I train boxers and I can tell that he didn’t even train and this was planned from the beginning.”
In an interview after the program, Ali said he was informed about Qica Jr a few fights before the main showdown.
“They brought a medical report,” Ali said.
“Then we appointed an independent doctor who also revealed that he had an injury. In boxing these sorts of things happen when boxers train at the last minute.
“According to the doctors reports, Qica had a pulled muscle and could not stand up properly.”
Results:
Main Bout: Super heavyweight 91kg – Petero Qica (champion) – Napoleon Taumoepeau (challenger) (Result) No fight; Main Supporting bout: Super middleweights 76kg Wahid Khan-Siliveni Nawai (Result) Siliveni Nawai won by fourth round technical knockout; Lightweight 61kg Krishna Mudaliar-Irfaan Khan (Result) Khan won by unanimous points decision; Super middleweight 79kg: Savenaca Junior Naliva-Atu Tuwai (Result) Naliva won by unanimous points decision; Welterweight 66kg: Ronald Naidu-Johnny Singh (Result) draw; Super middleweight 79kg: Simon Peter Whippy-Jovesa Vocea (Result) Vocea won, referee stopped contest in the second round; Middleweight 72kg: Tomasi Kavika-Iliave Bose Jr (Result) Kavika won by split points decision; Middleweight 72kg: Ratu Daunivava-Izaz Ifraq Khan (Result) Ratu won, referee stopped contest in the fourth round; Middleweight 72kg: Lepani Levatia-Eroni Vaqewa (Result) Vaqewa won by unanimous decision.
