Mika floors Ali in second round to win vacant title

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Fiji Boxing referee Faiyaz Khan stop Mikaele Ravalaca during his fight against Mohammed Ali during the Bluewater boxing promotion competition at the Vodafone Arena on Saturday night. Picture: SOPHIE RALULU

Mikaele Ravalaca is Fiji’s new lightweight boxing champion after defeating Mohammed Ali by technical knock-out (TKO) in a second-round finish as part of the Bluewater Boxing Promotions event at the Vodafone Arena in Suva last Saturday.

Ravalaca and Ali contested for the belt in a fierce fight of blows traded in rapid succession and delivered with spell-binding force that warranted both boxers to get their bearings in check.

With less than a minute having elapsed in round two of the bout, Ravalaca placed a well-connected jab to Ali that sent him to the green carpeted canvas of the boxing ring and prompted the referee to step in and stop the fight.

An air of significance filled the arena as no boxer had laid their claim on the lightweight belt for a prolonged period of time until Ravalaca clinched it.

Ravalaca expressed how appreciative he had been of Ali and thanked him for the formidable competition displayed.

Ali responded by highlighting the reduction in his weight in line with category requirements and suggested the prospect of a re-match.

“I was 68kg and then I came (down) to 61kg. There was no one to fight you, so now you have the title,” Ali said.

“I’ll try and have a re-match with you.”

Meanwhile in other fights, Alivereti Kauyaca won by unanimous decision over Paulo Ratumaikuro in the first cruiser-weight contest, Joseph Kwadjo won by technical knockout (TKO) over Robin Hazelman in the second.

In the welterweight division, Ratu Rakuro Daunivavana won by TKO in the second round over Masitogi Rokotuva.