THE investigation into the death of local boxer Ubayd Haider has hit a roadblock, as the Board of Inquiry has been unable to interview South Pacific Boxing promoter Freddy Chand, who has left the country for Australia.
As a result, Chand’s licence has been suspended until he returns and cooperates with the inquiry as confirmed by Minister for Youth and Sports, Jese Saukuru.
“We were still left to interview promoter Freddy Chand who has flew to Australia but we will continue and move on. Fredy will lose his licence unless he comes back for the interview,” Saukuru said.
The Minister for Sports has also responded to public concerns regarding the operations of the Boxing Commission of Fiji (BCF), acknowledging both the criticisms and improvements within the sport.
“I’m so thankful that they’ve picked it up, and there are a lot of improvements that have been done, but I know people are criticising them from social media, but that’s part of life.
“I’ve advised the chairman and the board to take into account feedback that can help improve processes,” Saukuru stated.
He highlighted that reforms have been made within the commission, particularly following the controversial case of Haider.
Last year, Haider’s situation prompted the formation of a tribunal to investigate the matter.
“What we’ve done is fix the weaknesses identified, and the board is continuously working to improve the system,” he said.
The Minister also pointed out boxing events are now held more frequently, with international matches becoming a regular feature.
Saukuru proposed an initiative to revive regional boxing titles, an idea he believes would elevate the sport in the region.
“Why don’t we explore that opportunity? We should be looking at champions from Tonga, Samoa, and other Pacific Island countries and match them with our boxers in Fiji. That would make the sport more exciting and attract larger audiences,” he suggested.
As boxing in Fiji continues to evolve, fans and stakeholders will be looking forward to seeing how these proposed improvements unfold in the coming months.
