THERE is a curious thing about fighting, sometimes the hardest bouts have nothing to do with an opponent.
They are fought between raising children, running a business, studying for a postgraduate degree and finding time to train.
Katerina Faleao Singh knows something about those fights.
The Samoan born mother of three is a professional boxer, director of Happy Clubs Boxing Gym in Lautoka, MBA student and this season, a first-year player for the Lautoka women’s rugby team in the Subrails Marama Championship.
Her professional boxing career began in August 2017 and continued until 2023, with nine bouts across the super-welterweight division and a record of three wins, four losses and two draws.
Her victories came against Mable Daucakacaka, Haifa Work and Wainikitu Deku, while she also faced Elenoa Matanisiga, Visila Lagilagi, Inise Kaunimara and Malakay Moukyaber.
Her final recorded bout was against Moukyaber at Prince Charles Park in Nadi in October 2023.
Now, rugby has given her another arena.
The move came through her gym, which had a contract with the Lautoka men’s rugby team to use the facility for training. Through that relationship, Singh became familiar with the rugby season before the women’s team began looking for players.
She saw an opportunity to put her strength to another use.
“Why not use the strength to represent Lautoka?” she said.
It was also a chance to represent a city she now considers home.
Singh has lived in Fiji for 16 years and says Lautoka has become her “home away from home”.
“So I represent Lautoka with so much pride,” she said.
Her first season has already delivered a difficult test.
Lautoka suffered a 24-52 defeat to Suva at Bidesi Ground last Friday, exposing areas the side must address.
Singh came on in the second half and watched Suva’s physicality up close.
“It wasn’t an easy opponent, I must say,” she said.
The result has not changed her belief in Lautoka.
“I believe we have our own plans in place. I know this is not our win for today, but I thank God for the strength.”
Away from sport, Singh has another demanding schedule.
She is raising three children, running her boxing gym and completing her Master of Business Administration at the University of the South Pacific, with two units remaining.
“I’m a full-time mom and a businesswoman,” she said.
She credits her husband, family, friends and teammates for helping her manage the competing demands.
“It’s not an easy task for a woman to do, I must say.
“But the support I have got from my family, my friends, and of course my team, it’s a great support.”
Singh has slowed down her boxing because of her studies, but she has not lost her appetite for sport.
“If I still have the strength to go ahead, and if I do my best, and if I get picked by something else, then of course I will take it and pursue a talent from God,” she said.
For now, the ring has given way to the rugby field.
The sport is different, the demands are different, but the fight continues.
