28 May 2012

Sport: Fiji and Tahiti pull out of boxing champs

10:45 am on 28 May 2012

The Pacific Rim Boxing Championship has been challenged with fighters from Fiji and Tahiti pulling of Thursday's event in Apia.

The chairman of the regional tournament and founder, Pa'u Teleia'i Edwin Puni, says the two boxing teams have pulled out because of the outcome of a recent international bout in Tahiti, in which a New Zealand boxer had collapsed during the fight and died.

The 29 year old William Rodriguez Gonzalez was fighting Tahitian Karihi Tehei in a lightweight bout.

Edwin Puni says leaders of the sport in Fiji and Tahiti should have considered the high standards of boxing in Samoa without fear for the safety of their athletes.

Australia's four time heavyweight champion Bob Mirovic will now fight Samoa's Gogosina Ulutoa in the main event.

English boxer Richard Hackney will be going toe to toe with Samoan welterweight sensation Iosia Nanai while Atalili Fai of New Zealand is confirmed to fight Samoa contender To'o Mitai.