FIJI Boxing suffered a decisive blow after New Zealand-based Tongan Sitaleki Maka upset local champion Junior Farzan Ali during the main bout of the Toe 2 Toe Boxing Promotions program in Nadi on Saturday night.
Many fans were shocked when favourite Junior Farzan’s cornerman threw in the towel as the bell for the start of the third round rang.
Referee Faiyaz Khan immediately called the fight over as Junior Farzan, known as ‘The Razor,’ sat on his chair dumbfounded as to what had stung him.
This was Junior Farzan’s first loss on home soil after a decade showing signs that age was slowly catching up with the 36-year-old.
All the money was on Junior Farzan with his wealth of experience, but once the fight started, it was Maka who was the aggressor.
Junior Farzan came out with his guards up and Maka went to work, landing some powerful body punches.
Maka also found a few inroads through Junior Farzan’s defence.
Junior Farzan failed to land any punches on his opponent.
The scenario was the same at the start of the second round with Junior Farzan taking more punishment.
At one stage he tried to get back at Maka, but the Tongan backed away with his swift footwork.
The punishment really hurt Junior Farzan who did not get up from his chair for the third round, a sight never seen of the champion on his own turf.
Maka, 30, said he did not expect the bout to end so suddenly.
“My form was very good going into this fight,” he said.
“I’m glad the fight is over. I was hoping for a tough fight and I came out strongly in the second round.
“But I did not expect the fight to end this way. I respect every fighter but when you get in the ring it is a different scene.”
Maka said he was proud to win his first bout away from New Zealand.
“I love to come back and fight here, but I have a title fight back in New Zealand coming up soon.”
Junior Farzan said he could not continue because of an old hand injury which he had aggravated.
Results:
10×3 Junior Farzan Ali vs Sitaleki Maka (Maka won referee stop contest 2nd round)
4×3 Junior ‘The Rock” Feroz (Navosa) vs Ulaiasi ‘The Sweet” Qalomai (Qalomai won unanimous points)
6×3 Nereo Cakautini vs Frank ‘The Knockout’ Fraiser (Fraiser won unanimous points)
6×3 Simione Tui vs Savenaca Naliva (Naliva won referee stop contest 3rd round).
6×3: Tomasi Dago vs Joseva Vaileba (Dago win by default)
Exhibition bout 3×2: Junior Wahid Khan vs Mohammed Yasir (draw)
