Sports Preview: Boxing
With 10 weight classes for the men's competition and three for the women's, action at the Boxing kicks off at Don Bosco College on Savai'i begins on Tuesday 16 July at 11:30am.
FULL SCHEDULE
This is the start of four days of fierce competition finishing on Friday with entry SAT$5.00 at the venue
Boxing was included in the first Pacific Games in 1963 and the popularity of the sport continues to grow.
2019 is the second Pacific Games to include women in Flyweight, Lightweight and Middleweight classes.
Papua New Guinea, Tahiti, and Samoa have traditionally dominated the sport but Federated States of Micronesia shows great promise in the Women’s division.
Savai’i is the third largest Polynesian island after Tahiti and New Zealand.
Fourteen nations are primed to compete in Savai'i, making history as the 'big island' will host the Pacific Games Boxing Competition for the first time.
American Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tahiti, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu will be represented in the ring.
“It was no accident to hold the boxing on the big island of Savaii”, says Games Chief Executive Falefata Hele Matatia. “It’s about inclusiveness to ensure that Savai'i plays a leading role in the Pacific Games.”
Commonwealth Silver Medalist and National boxing representative, Ato Plodzicki-Faoagali is looking forward to representing Samoa at the Samoa 2019 XVI Pacific Games.
The Don Bosco Hall, Salelologa on Savai’i is home ring for most of the boxers competing to represent Samoa and the Samoa Boxing Federation is eyeing all the thirteen gold medals on offer.
