NEWSPAGE 30 November
2011

(Photo: Green Party)

(Photo: eventpolynesia.com)

SAMOA: Samoa Pro Am Boxing Honorary Award Recipients 2011
Source: Event Polynesia Press Release

Event Polynesia Boxing on behalf of the stakeholders of the Samoa Pro Am Fights Honorary Award is happy to announce its Samoa Pro Am Boxing Award Recipients for 2011. Stated in 2008, the Samoa Honorary Boxing Awards are presented in the end of year SPAF in December.

This milestone in Samoa Boxing was an initiative of Event Polynesia Boxing presented to the national and local boxing stakeholders including the Samoa Amateur Boxing Association - SABA, and the South Pacific Boxing Incorporated - SPBI.

Accordingly, the selection committee includes the SABA President Togatalima Faafouina Milford, Secretary General of the SPBI Ale Vena Ale, and Event Polynesia Samoa Manager Tuilagi MS Esera.

Those selection criteria for honorees include those pioneers and legends of Samoan boxing across all disciplines of amateurs and professionals. According to EP Managing Director Pa’u Fereti Puni, it is the only way we can acknowledge the invaluable contribution from those who have helped pave the way for Samoan boxing over the years; including Boxers, Trainers and Promoters.

The 2011 Recipients are as follows:

1. FONOTI LUI ASALEMO BROWN = ‘Boxer’

 Fonoti Lui Asalemo Brown hails from Lotofaga and Lalovaea was one of those original multisport athletes. You can say the original Sonny Bill Williams type who excelled in rugby, rugby league and boxing. He was a representative player in those sports including heavyweight boxing champion all during his high school days at Sacred Heart College from 1949 to 1954 whilst the college was located at Richmond Road.

 Fonoti Lui Brown was later a stalwart for the Hospital Rugby Team Pirates in its heydays which included Samoan rugby legends like Dr Sione Palamo and Dr Lance Eves to name a few.

 Fonoti served on many boards including being the patriarch of their beloved Saleufi and Mulivai Catholic parishes, plus national SOE Boards like the Agriculture Department and the Agriculture Store Corporation in Samoa.

 Fonoti is 75 years old and is married to Pekina Taimalie Brown and after many years tending their family farm in Lotofaga besides many other civic duties they held, they are now retired and living in Los Angles California.

2. WILLIAM EDWIN MEREDITH - ‘BILLY’ = Promoter/Manager/Administrator (4 May 1952- 18 April 2003)

 William Edwin Meredith or better known as “Billy” was born in 1952, in Apia Samoa to family with a passion for boxing. Billy’s father, Oscar Meredith an amateur boxer and trainer inspired Billy to don his first pair of boxing gloves at a young age. Billy and his siblings, Lynn, Gillian and James (who also later became an amateur boxer and trainer) became avid fans of tent matches—popular boxing bouts that traveled around Upolu and Savaii much the way a circus might. However, it was at the 1983 South Pacific Games held in Samoa that Billy found his real passion and talent was not in the ring but rather outside of it.

 It is often said that the difference between a skilled boxer you've never heard of and a skilled boxer named Muhammad Ali is often a really good promoter. As a promoter and team manager, Billy found that he had a natural talent for promoting the game of boxing to another level outside of Samoa. Billy was instrumental in bringing together a team of amateur boxers that participated in numerous local, regional and international events. His most memorable lifetime accomplishments in boxing included being a team manager and promoter for the following:

o 1987, Olympic qualifying tournament, Yugoslavia, Russia;
o 1988, Summer Olympic Games, Seoul, Korea;
o 1992, Summer Olympic Games, Barcelona, Spain;
o Oceania qualifying tournaments for Olympics (1992, 1996, 2000)

 Billy’s career in boxing as a promoter and manager embodied the stuff legends are made of. He was a firm believer that boxers who achieve not only success in the ring but also long-term financial success know to surround themselves with people who know the business of boxing as well as those who know the art.

 He was also the President of the Marist Boxing Club and General Manager of Samoa Air until he passed away in 2003. He was married to Agnes Pereira-Meredith (deceased) and is survived by their four children Oscar Meredith, Nadia Meredith-Hunt, Rozanna Meredith and Agnes (Ambo) Meredith.

3. MAEATAANOA TAUAA LEOTA ALO SAIPELE - ‘Saipele Pasui’ = Boxer

 Known for his hallmark lightning quick left hook and multi jabs during his career, Saipele as he was known in the boxing ring hails from Faleapuna.

 Samoa and South Pacific Champion in the light-heavyweight division for many years

 Some of his memorable fights were against Pacific champions such as Mahe Pepa of Tonga and Rambuka of Fiji.

 He holds many high chief titles including high sitting chief titles from Faleapuna and Solosolo

 Saipele is now 74 years old and it is amazing how this great strapping scientific boxer is still going strong at the tender age of 74. He still helps his family with the farm and tends to his church, village and district matai responsibilities holding the Maeataanoa title at Faleapuna.

Prime Minister of Samoa and Patron of the Samoa Pro Am Fights Hon Tuilaepa Fatialofa Sailele Malielegaoi will present the Samoa Boxing Honorary Awards to the esteemed recipients at the end of year annual Samoa Pro Am Fights on Thursday December 1 2011 at Faleata Gym 1.

Photo Caption: Upcoming Samoa Pro Am Fights on Thursday December 1 2011

AMERICAN SAMOA:  Highly successful food fest "Taste of Samoa"

The hugely successful two-day ‘Taste of Samoa' food festival that took place this past weekend - a first for the territory - has one of its co-sponsors, Origin Energy saying another one is in the works.

The festival, which was free to the public and located on the grounds of Origin Energy business compound at the Tafuna Industrial Park was sponsored by Origin Energy, Tradewinds Hotel and Sadie Thompson Inn.

The theme for this year's festival was, ‘Celebrate Healthy Foods and Healthy Living'.

The highlight of the food festival was the cooking demonstration and dishes prepared and cooked by two of American Samoa's top chefs, Chef Jason of the Equator/Tradewinds Hotel and Chef Charles of the Sadie Thompson Inn.

The chefs later auctioned off their dishes, with proceeds going towards sending local athletes to Australia for athletic competition.

Chef Jason prepared a Spanish Seafood Stew, along with a Pork Tenderloin with Country style Gravy, while Chef Charles served up a Surf and Turf dish, along with a Stuffed Filet Mignon dish.

The ‘best dish' competition - had the public offer up their best dishes in various categories, which were then judged by the top chefs. The categories for the best dishes, with their winners are:

Best Local Dish: Tapai Tervola

Best Dessert Dish: Daniel Vili

Best Tuna Dish: Anisone

Best Thanksgiving Leftover Dish: Nick Matai'a

Best International/Ethnic Dish: Tapai Tervola

Best Barbecue Dish: Mia Aguirre

On Saturday, local farmers brought in their fruits and vegetables to be weighed-in for the "biggest" competition, the winners are:

Venasio Toala for the biggest stock of bananas; and

Sue Oliver for the biggest pineapples.

Both took the honors of largest home grown produce.

"I want to thank all of the participants, especially the chefs and all of those who came in with their special dishes for this great event that went off very well," said Ethan Lake-Origin Energy Sales and Marketing Manager.

"We had chefs from the top two restaurants on island, the Equator and Sadie Thompson Inn. They did an outstanding job in doing demonstrations with the food, which was excellent. The fact that these two restaurants were able to give up their chefs and work with us and the prizes that they gave for the winners, was amazing and I want to thank them for that. I know everyone who was here had a great time and enjoyed the food.

He stated that "This is going to be an annual event for the food festival. There are areas that we can improve and build on, having events similar to this one that will lead up to next year's grand food festival, so we can have the people prepared."

Lake said, "This is the first ever local food competition that I know of and we had great entries. I know there are people out there that could not make it to this competition and do not want to wait for next year for the next one, so that is why we may look at how we can do something similar throughout the year, to keep the interest in the food and the connoisseurs."
 

(Photo: irbsevens.com)

FIJI: The return of magical Fiji
Source: irbsevens.com

What a fascinating way to start the new Series.

The Gold Coast Sevens is a new event and once word gets round about this weekend’s incredible tournament it will be a very popular venue for years to come, in a superb stadium.

And I think it was a fascinating and exciting start to the season because you saw new emerging players, new talent, and of course the return of magical Fiji which capped the whole event in a wonderful final.

It was their new style. They made a commitment about not wanting to go into contact and wanting to go back to the style of Fiji which is about continuous attack, running from everywhere, and that is exactly what they did.

All of their big men stood up, against a team who looked a little passive. In a way I believe Fiji have moved on and shown how you can overcome the power and the ball winning skills that New Zealand have with the likes of Solomon King, Frank Halai, DJ Forbes and Tim Mikkelson, and their own magic in Tomasi Cama.

I thought though that Fiji brought an edge, one that got the crowd on their feet. To see the outrageous flamboyant style of some of the Fijian play was exciting because it has been a while since Fiji have won a Cup final.

It is amazing to think it has been nine years since Fiji have beaten New Zealand in a Cup final. In one of their many Cup finals they haven’t done so since 2002. But here they were back on top of the world and it has set up the season so perfectly really.

New Zealand are always going to be good and will be there at the end, but here we have a Series now that says look how many teams are so close.

Arrival of new talent

So many youngsters to watch our for too and that is another element that made me so happy about this tournament, the arrival of all this new talent. Looking at New Zealand and all these teenagers in Joe Webber, Charles Piutau and Glen Robertson.

And Wales on the back of a great Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, they also had some great youngsters, who will be big names in their time, like Harry Robertson and Owen B Williams.

Not forgetting the young Australians; Lewis Holland, Pama Fou and Lindsay Crook, and USA's Folau Niua who all have a lot of promise.

By contrast you then had this fairy tale, at the other end of the spectrum, 39-year-old Senivalati Vunibola, who came on in the final, having done his bit throughout the tournament.

There he was doing what he has probably done for 25-years, ripping the ball of Toby Arnold, at such a crucial stage in the final, flipping it out having grabbed it from New Zealand, and produced the try which was the turning point in the final.

So it has been a tremendous start at a great venue, with a new breed of Fiji and an extra sort of element to the game of Sevens that moves on in a very visually exciting style for spectators.

We now move ahead to Dubai, and it is going to be a testing three weeks, with several sides suffering from one or two niggling injuries and therefore player resources will be tested to the full.

Conditions in Dubai are never easy either. I think the openness of the top eight is going to continue and what I was looking through was how close the results were all the way through. It is closing in so much between the top abilities and the lesser teams overall, and there are no chasms anymore between those at the top and those below them anymore which we will see once more this weekend at 7he Sevens.

Photo Caption: Fiji beat New Zealand in a Cup final for the first time in nine years
 

(Photo: eventpolynesia.com)

TAHITI: Future of professional boxing in the Pacific looks bright
Source: Event Polynesia Press Release
 
Final discussions for the propose Pacific International Boxing Championship (PIBC) will take place in Apia this week. The meeting is hosted by Samoa boxing company Event Polynesia who is spearheading the establishment of a regional professional boxing championship.

Confirmed to attend is Fiji promoter Mr. Abdul Khan of Wild West Promotion, Mr. Leca Reginald representing Tahiti promoter Mr. Patrice Gobrait of Polynesia Professional Boxing League, New Zealand promoter Mr. Jenkins Tesese of Arcbridge Trust and Samoa promoter Mr. Tuilagi Saipele Esera of the Samoa Pro Am Fights.

The meeting in Apia will also provide the overseas promoters the opportunity to meet local boxing officials and attend the Samoa Pro Am Fights on Thursday night featuring a Samoa vs Fiji line up. Similar promotions in Fiji and Tahiti in the weekend and in New Zealand earlier in the month were part of a trial run of the propose PIBC.

Managing Director of Event Polynesia, Mr Pa'u Fereti Puni, was in Nadi in the weekend to meet with the Boxing Commission of Fiji and officials in preliminary talks regarding the Fiji leg of the PIBC to start next year. Pa'u also attended the Wild West Promotion which had Samoan welterweight champion Oli Filimaua against Fijian champ Junior Farzan Ali as the main
supporting bout of the WBF title fight between eventual winner Joseph Kwadjo of Ghana and Joy Ali of Fiji. Oli lost on points after eight rounds and hopes the PIBC will provide the opportunity for a rematch with Farzan in Samoa in the near future.

The Tahitian promotion also did not go well for the Samoan fighters. Light welterweight Tony Iapesa and welterweight Michael Fonoti both lost on points in their four rounds contest against local favorites Tinitua Neagle and Jean Louis Albertini. Samoan contender Faimasasa Tavui lost to David Aloua of New Zealand with the referee stopping the fight in the ninth round of their
Universal Boxing Organisation (UBO) title fight. Australian based Aloua fought a smart fight under the watchful eye of his trainer Anthony Mundine and cornerman Sonny Bill Williams.

Pa'u who will be chairing the meeting said, "The PIBC will certainly lift boxing in the Pacific to another level, providing local boxers with the much needed international tournament.
It will also provide local boxing fans and supporters the opportunity to see the best Pacific boxers fight in town."

"While the Samoan boxers prepared well going into the Fiji and Tahiti fights, it's a different thing when you have close to four thousand vocal fans cheering the local fighter. That's the kind of atmosphere you can expect when you have top Pacific fighters under one roof when the PIBC
starts next year," according to Pa'u.

Photo 1 - Event Polynesia MD Pa'u Fereti Puni with Fiji 'matchmaker' Rakesh Martin and Ale Vena Ale

Photo 2 - Boxing Commissioners Ale Vena Ale of Samoa with Patrick Leonard of New Zealand
 

TUVALU: Nauru, Tuvalu, Solomons close waters to foreign tuna fleets
Source: Saipan Tribune
 
As 2011 comes to a close, three parties to the Nauru Agreement countries have taken the bold step of closing their waters to foreign fishing vessels in order to maintain sustainable tuna fishing limits.

The tiny atoll nation of Tuvalu was the latest to announce it was closing its fishery last week, notifying all foreign purse seine fishing vessels they are no longer permitted to fish for tuna in Tuvalu waters.

Tuvalu's closure follows the decision by Nauru a fortnight ago to close their waters after they reached their fishing limits.

In June this year, the Solomon Islands decided to close their fishery.

A key part of the PNA's conservation and management of tuna is limiting the number of days fishing vessels can fish in the PNA's vast 14 million square kilometers of the Pacific Ocean-an area which provides around 30 percent of the world's tuna supply.

The PNA operates a Vessel Day Scheme for foreign purse seine vessels where a total number of days for fishing are set for the PNA area, and then divided between the eight PNA ocean states which can also trade days between them. If a PNA member country uses up their days, they must close the fishery and purchase fishing days from another country so as to keep overall fishing effort in the PNA area within sustainable limits.

In 2010, PNA committed to have hard limits on fishing, beginning in 2011, which resulted in fishery closures in three PNA members (Tuvalu, Nauru, and Solomon Islands).

Solomon Islands then bought fishing days from the Marshall Islands through bilateral trading. Solomon Islands then sold these days to Korea so only Korean purse seine vessels currently fish in Solomon Islands waters in 2011.

In 2011, Papua New Guinea too made use of the Vessel Day Scheme by buying fishing days from Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, and Palau so PNG can continue to sell fishing days in its waters and keep its fishery open.

“Despite the challenges they have as developing countries, Nauru, Tuvalu, and Solomon Islands have enforced their fishing day limits by closing their waters to foreign tuna fleets,” said PNA director Dr. Transform Aqorau. “They have made a short term sacrifice of revenue in order to make a longer term gain of getting a higher price for their fishing days and to ensure fishing is kept in sustainable limits. We are all very proud of our leaders who have taken these hard decisions to help the PNA reach toward its goal of creating the world's largest sustainable tuna purse seine fishery.”