HE fought like a lion.
Mosese Ranavue is a future boxing star of Fiji.
Ranavue showed a lot of promise in his first fight against Eneriko Dakuwaqa of Navosa in the Central Boxing Association program held at the Lambert Hall in Flagstaff, Suva on Saturday.
He won on points after a hard fought battle with Dakuwaqa. The boxers went toe to toe with their punches with a never say die attitude and not taking a step back when the punches connect either way.
In the third round, there were two tired bodies and the energy level went down but still Ranavue smiled at his opponent and invited him to punch him leaving his guards down.
Ranavue’s father Mosese Ranavue Matai walked out of the hall and stood at the door not having the courage to see his son at that stage of the fight. He later told me that no father in the world wanted to see his son being punched.
“It is not easy to see your son fighting in the ring,” he said.
“I went outside and was praying and supporting my son from outside. I am happy he won the fight at the end and I know my son is a fighter and he gives his best in whatever task he is involved in.
“I always tell my son that his father will always be there on his side and for him to give his best shot. He has a long way to go and my friends have been telling me that he is a good boxer. Boxing is a risky sport and I never wanted him to be in the ring before.”
The 16-year-old student of Lelean Memorial School said national rep Cena Ruata was his favourite boxer in the amateur division in the country.
“When I was in Year 7 I saw some people training at the Jittu Club. I told my mom that I wanted to box as well and from there I started to train for a few months before leaving the sport for some time,” he said.
“I decided to make a comeback into the ring with the Team Boxing Brave and started to train again in December. I used to watch boxing on television and told myself that one day I will become a boxer. I am working hard towards my boxing career.”
He revealed after the fight that he had already won even before going into the ring as he played with Dakuwaqa’s mind.
“Before going in the ring my coach told me to play with his mind and that is why I was smiling at him and left my guards down since I knew he was tired. I waited for him to come and attack me. He lost his temper as well in the fight and I took advantage and control of the fight. I did well in the first two rounds and then in the last round, I found my energy was going down and I tried my best to take the fight to the end. When I was punching him I got tired but I made up some points.”
Ranavue comes from Team Boxing Brave Club led by national assistant coach Oscar Nanovu.
Nanovu said Ranavue had what it took to box at the international stage.
“He is only in Year 11 but he fought like an experienced fighter. He wanted to train with us so I took him on board last year,” he said.
“He delivered what he was taught in the training.
“Before going into the ring I told him to relax his mind. We have to prepare the boxers physically and mentally. I always work on the technical and tactical skills of every boxer.”
The amateur boxing is heading in the right direction with the class showed by fighters on Saturday night.
