“Fiji used to be the top of the South Pacific nation for boxing in the 1960s and early 1970s, Leweni Waqa symbolises that,” Temo who was also a former amateur boxing champion said.
Semi Dauloloma on the attack against Fiji heavyweight champion James ‘The Beast’ Singh at the Vodafone Arena in Suva on June 22, 2024. Photo: Josua Buredua
The Leweni Waqa Memorial belt has lived up to what it was intended for and that is to revive the country’s heavyweight division.
On Saturday night at the Vodafone Arena, Suva, it was Semi Dauloloma who became the first holder of the title after his second-round TKO (technical knockout) win over Fiji heavyweight champion James ‘The Beast’ Singh.
In awarding the title, Acting President and acting Chief Justice Salesi Temo said he was brought up around the same time with Leweni Waqa, who is country’s most successful heavyweight boxer. Waqa fought in the world heavyweight elimination where he lost to American boxer Jimmy Ellis in Highbury, London. Ellis went on to win the WBA (World Boxing Association) world heavyweight title from Floyd Patterson in 1968 before losing it to Joe Frazier in 1970.
“Fiji used to be the top of the South Pacific nation for boxing in the 1960s and early 1970s, Leweni Waqa symbolises that,” Temo who was also a former amateur boxing champion said.
“It’s a challenge for our young men and women, to progress boxing and take Fiji’s name internationally.”
He highlighted that Singh and Dauloloma have the potential of taking Fiji’s name internationally. Temo also thanked the promoters and fans for keeping the sport alive.
“We won’t stop here as far as the South Pacific is concerned Samoa is leading, look at their heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker, if he could do it then we (our boxers) could do it too.”
Dauloloma has also issued a challenge to Singh to defend the Fiji heavyweight title in August.
However, Singh said he had aggravated his knee injury and it had affected his performance.
When approached former Fiji heavyweight champion Waisiki Ligaloa said it was a good fight.
“Semi’s boxing skills are good. For James, he might have taken things for granted since he has been inactive (for longer periods of time) because he has beaten almost all the local heavyweights,” he added.
The Leweni Waqa Memorial belt was donated by renowned trainer John Ramos who now resides in Vancouver, Canada. The former owner of the Ramos Boxing Club in Suva guided welterweight boxer Sakaraia Ve to a top 10 world rankings with the WBA and World Boxing Council in the late 1970s. Ramos also trained featherweight boxer Wili Tarika who along with Ve fought for the Commonwealth titles under their respective weight divisions.
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