Boxer barred after being KO’d twice in 48 hours

Press, 19 December 1985, Page 52

Boxer barred after being KO’d twice in 48 hours

NZPA-AAP Melbourne A Fijian boxer, Aisea Nama, who was knocked out twice within 48 hours over the weekend, was yesterday barred from fighting in Victoria or New South Wales for the next 12 months for breaching regulations.

The chairman of the Victorian Professional Boxing Control Board (V.P.8.C.8.), Kevin Hayes, cancelled Naina’s licence to box in Victoria after it was found he had fought more than once in 14 days. He said the suspension was also made because under V.P.8.C.8. rules no boxer can fight within 30 days of being knocked out.

Nama, aged 23, a former Fijian heavyweight title holder, was stopped in the first round of his bout against Dave Russell at Festival Hall, Melbourne, on Monday night after being knocked down three times.

Ranked fifteenth among the world’s cruiserweights by the World Boxing Council (W.8.C.), he had surrendered his Fijian heavyweight title to Niko Degei in Suva last Saturday when the bout was stopped in the ninth round.

The V.P.8.C.8. is to notify Queensland boxing officials of its decision in the hope that it also bars the Fijian. “It was the only positive action I can take for him (Nama) having lied to the doctors,” Mr Hayes said.

He said Nama had been examined by a doctor on arrival in Australia and had said he had not fought in the past 14 days nor been knocked out in the past 30

days. Mr Hayes said Nama had repeated this to a doctor in a later examination. He said he would notify all State Departments of Youth, Sport and Recreation of the licence cancellation. Mr Hayes said the V.P.8.C.8. would continue with a full-scale investigation as to how Nama was able to circumvent boxing regulations. He indicated that if necessary the board would fly someone to Fiji as part of the inquiry. He is convinced that Nama’s manager knew the two fights would be too closely scheduled, and said he believed Nama was not at fault. “Some managers would put their mother in for a fight,” Hayes said. "The matter is a serious breach of V.P.8.C.8. and W.B.C. rules.” Nama and his manager could face fines and suspension if they are found to have deliberately misled the Victorian authorities even though they left Australia on Tuesday, according to Mr Hayes. The fight’s promoter, Cos Sita, could also face suspension if it is found he had knowledge of Nama’s earlier bout in Suva. After the Suva fight Nama had complained of an

injured shoulder, but somehow managed to find hisway clear to fight in Melbourne.

Mr Hayes said Nama had apparently told Sita he had not fought for 14 days. “There are three things I want to know,” Mr Hayes said.“ Why Nama’s manager allowed him to fight here, why the Fiji Boxing Commission allowed Nama to come here and fight and didn’t notify us of the earlier bout, and who has the full story — the promoter, the manager or the commission?” He said he had contacted the Fijian Federal Minister for Youth, Sport and Recreation, Ahmed Ali, and related the circumstances surrounding the breach. Mr Hayes said Mr Ali had said, he would recommend that criminal charges be laid against “a number of people involved” with the matter.

He said Mr Ali’s opposition counterpart, Arthur Jennings, had notified him that he would press for tighter legislation. Mr Jennings’ son is Nama’s trainer, but Mr Jennings reportedly does “not care who it hurts.”

Nama’s manager could also face fines and suspension if he is found to have deliberately misled Victorian authorities.