“SEGA ni dua e tomi tu ga mai na vei tavioka kau mai me mai veivacu e na ivakatagedegede qo, (No one is just plucked from the cassava patch to fight in the professional arena), says trainer Saimoni Taudomo.
The former boxer claimed a certain boxer, whose record of five professional fights with 23 rounds by Boxrec, was not involved in amateur boxing.
“This is uncalled for, for many boxers who have sacrificed their time in the sport of amateur boxing,” Taudomo said.
“This is not healthy.”
He said the problem here was FABA not releasing its boxers.
“There should be no shortcuts.
“Not everyone will represent Fiji in amateur,” he said.
This process is hurting the sport and some of the matches are clearly seen to be mismatches.
He said one could even bring their pillow and blanket to some professional fights because they were so boring.
“If this sport needs to be revived, there should be an elite path for amateur boxers,” he said.
He said those boxers should be ready to battle in the professional arena.
“If you want to see the real cream of boxing, they are in the amateur division,” he said.
“They focus when they perform and have advanced timing drills and their rhythm, tempo, and are well versed with speed punches.
“A lot of boxers in pro don’t have amateur fights because they have no knowledge of such a pathway and also I hope this pathway is enforced because of the lack of skills and techniques.”
Questions and requests for comments sent via email to BCF remain unanswered.
