FIJIAN amateur boxer Aminiasi Saratibau celebrated with both arms raised in jubilation when he beat New Zealand’s Kagho Taj Eseoghene in the men’s 80kg prelims of the round of 32 at the 2025 World Boxing Championships in Liverpool, England yesterday.
And according to national coach Cam Todd, it was a contest of varying degree as his New Zealand opponent, while taller in stature, was no match for the blows and agile footwork shown against him by Saratibau.
“Amini’s (Aminiasi Saratibau) performance was very strong, the bout was just a little untidy,” Todd said. “But we had to put a lot of pressure on our New Zealand opponent because he’s technically a very good boxer and Amini’s physically very strong, so we needed to put a lot of pressure on him.”
According to coach Todd, Saratibau now becomes the second Fijian boxer to win a bout at the World Boxing Championships, the first being Jone Davule in 2023.
Davule had beaten Zimbabwean boxer Luckmore Kamoto in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, to progress to the round of 16 in the lightweight category of 57-60kg.
Besides Saratibau, Fiji has four other boxers participating at the competition, all of whom did not make it into the next round.
Last week, on the Thursday, September 4, Semi Koroitukana lost by points to Mousa Alhawsaw of Saudi Arabia in the men’s 65kg prelim bout in the round of 64.
Last Saturday, Sakiusa Narara lost to Aryan Saed Panah of BRT in the men’s 85kg prelim event in the round of 32.
In this bout, the referee stopped the contest at round one. Meanwhile, on Sunday, Josaia Veiqaravi lost by points of 5-0 to Canada’s Kuwardeep Manu.
Also on Sunday, Jone Davule lost by points of 5-0 to French boxer Lounes Hamraoui.
The competition ends on September 14.
