Amateur Boxers

In Fiji May

Go To Olympiad

A MATEUR boxing in Fiji has been given a fillip by a statement that the resuscitated Fiji Amateur Boxing Asso ciation is looking into the possibilities of sending a team to the Olympic Games at Melbourne next year.

In the professional department, Tongan Kitione Lave knocked out the British heavyweight Manuel Burgos in the first round of a London bout on August 22.

Lave said later that he wants a return bout with ex-champion Johnny Williams, who beat him in the first round of Lave’s first bout in England.

In New Zealand the Fijian light-heavy weight champion, Laitia Yakaduadua. lost on points in an uninspiring bout with Australian Johnny Douglas at Auckland in late August.

Fijian heavyweight Jovecl Bau, in a spectacular fight at Hastings, NZ, on August 27, beat Ken Brady, ex-champion of Australia, on points. The Australian, who had the advantage in height, reach and weight, said later that Jovecl had all the makings of a great boxer.

Tongan Johnny Halafihi made a brilliant comeback at Auckland in August when he scored a technical knockout over Pran Mikus, Australian middleweight champion.

In the eighth round the referee stopped the fight a second or so before Mikus’s manager, Ambrose Palmer, could throw in the towel.

Fosi Schmidt, the Western Samoan heavyweight, knocked out Australian Ross Jenkins in the fifth round of a bout at 4pia on August 26.

At Sydney on August 35 Eastern Samoan Wrestler AIo Leilani beat American Don Beitleman by two falls to one after 42 minutes.