their way to triumph

Western Samoans punch their way to triumph

Boxing, in a word, was variable— but crowds packed the fine boxing stadium at all events—with tickets for the finals sold out well before time. Tahiti’s television station showed the finals live, and families gathered around sets all over Tahiti to boo and cheer. In the stadium itself the capacity crowd showed itself unpartisan—it was willing to cheer any boxer from anywhere who put on a good show.

The Western Samoans entered the strongest team overall getting six men into the finals and taking out four golds. All Tongan boxers went home with a medal each, except the & S ‘ ,he ™ 1"’- lig t 1 ' heavywetght Vihame Suvaleni, who "> ly , hi ' d hls br ° k n ” ? firTfiL, J C aCC , ld fu nt be f ore r .u 1S first fight and spent the rest of the time m hospital. He is unbeaten in eight fights. For the first time in any Games Tonga won a gold for boxing—Maile Peti, in the lightmiddleweight. Tonga is usually strong in the heavyweight divisions, but currently it is weak because of the number of good boxers turning pro, especially now that income from copra and bananas is down. Maile Peti has now had 15 fights for 14 wins and a loss.

Styles varied. The West Samoans, who showed the best general ability

and strength, were more fighters than boxers. The Tongans, Fijians and American Samoans were more boxers than fighters, as were the New Hebrideans (who lacked competition), New Guinea entered a team of scientific boxers who were well balanced; French Polynesia put up well-trained boxers, but not well trained in the finer arts—they had a hustling, fighting style. The Cooks weren’t impressive because they hadn’t had enough experience against hard hitters, and the New Cale donians, like the Tahitians, had had plenty of training but somehow the results weren’t there.

None of the four Guam boxers actually t into the ring one was ill, two failed to make the weight and one had his nose broken in a trainin session , Young Western Samoan light-fly, Flia Nanai, won himself some well deserved boos in the finals when he obviously disagreed with the judges’ decision to award the gold to New Guinean Pius Koso (who landed more punches where they mattered), refused to shake hands and removed his silver medal and stepped down from the podium before the medal ceremony had been completed. His boorish behaviour got him a lecture in the dressing room.

Fiji's Inosi Kamia seems surprised at finding himself on the canvas in a bout with PNG's Martin Beni. Beni won a close decision on points.