| |
SAMOAN GOVERNMENT
DONATES $5,000 TO PROFESSIONAL BOXING
Source:
eventpolynesia.com
Approval of $5,000 assistance by Cabinet
last week towards the upcoming Samoa Pro-Am
Fights (SPAF) in Apia on Tuesday 8th
September has the professional boxing
fraternity and boxing fans excited.
The grant has been given in support of Samoa
local Pro-Boxers and upcoming sensation
Vaitele Soi as the main event of the night
against former PABA and IPF Pan Pacific
champion Mohammed Azzaoui of New Zealand.
Soi who turned professional last year, has a
record of six wins out of six fights, five
wins by way of KO. His recent win in July in
front of a capacity crowd at Faleata Gym 1
was in record time, knocking out his Fijian
opponent in twenty five seconds into the
first round.
The October promotion will feature veteran
Welterweight former champion Ionatana Pula
against up and coming Oli Filimaua. Other
undercards includes Warren Fuiavailili
verses Uale Leota in the Light Heavyweight
division and Afakasi Pele Faumui against
Tauave Vainuu in the Middleweight decision.
Mr. Tuilagi MS Esera of Event Polynesia
Boxing said, “The financial assistance from
Government is a huge boost to professional
boxing in Samoa.”
“It will ensure we can continue to stage the
much needed tournaments for local
professional boxers to build their records,
and to secure overseas opponents”, according
to Mr Esera.
The announcement by Government comes at the
same time professional boxing is celebrating
another milestone, having its first two
Samoan based professional boxers fighting
for World Boxing Organisation (WBO) regional
title shots in August.
Unfortunately, Seiaute Mailata’s (Samoa
cruiserweight champion) challenge for the
WBO Oriental Cruiserweight title against
Dominic Vea of Australia was unsuccessful
earlier in the month.
Dominic Vea is the current title holder
after Lawrence Tauasa of Samoa who fought
out of Australia lost the title after losing
out in the Contender Series 4 TV tournament
last year.
Setting the benchmark of professional boxing
in Samoa to date now lies with Togasilimai
Letoa’s (Samoa light heavyweight champion)
taking a shot at the WBO Asia Pacific
Interim title against NZ former Olympian and
current light heavyweight champion, Soul
Pounceby.
Letoa will be fighting on the 28th August at
ASB Stadium Auckland ahead of the long
awaited David Tua challenge on the 3rd
October for the WBO Oriental and WBO Asia
Pacific heavyweight titles currently with
Shane Cameron.
Letoa and his corner Asiata Leon Stanley and
Ale Vena Ale departs Tuesday for Auckland.
PHOTOS:
[1]
(L-R) Togasilimai Letoa, Vaitele Soi &
Seiaute Mailata.
|
|
