Fijian talent

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Lepani Wilson, second from right, with his boxers in his academy in Sydney, Australia. Picture: JOSEFA MAKABA

IT all started under a mango tree in Lami one day in 1985, now after 30 years Lepani Wilson continues to do what he does best – train boxers.

Wilson, who now lives in Cambletown, Sydney, Australia, says he will continue to train boxers because that is his calling.

The Kadavu man, who trained two champions; Tevita Vakalalabure and Frank Atu during his time in Fiji, made a name for himself when he trained his nephew Reinald Quinlan to win the interim IBO and then the world IBO middleweight title.

Wilson, who also held the post of president of the Professional Boxing and Wrestling Association in Fiji, now runs his own boxing gym in Cambletown called the Wilson Boxing Academy.

“I will continue to do this until I cannot do it any more,” Wilson said after a training session. He now trains a group of young and enthusiastic boxers.

“I have trained national champions in Fiji and have trained a world champion here in Australia.

“I believe I still have the energy and time to train these young boxers to achieve the best they can achieve in the sport.

“I have a very strong and close group of friends who have been there supporting what I do and this has kept me going in this sport.”

Wilson is confident one of his young guns will be able to rise up and continue his dream of producing boxing champioons. “I am confident if these boys listen well and follow all that has been taught to them during our training sessions, surely one of them will be a champion one day.

“I have done it before and I know these boys have the talent and skills to become champion boxers one day,” Wilson said.

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