09 July, 2009
BOXING PROMOTION POSTPONED TO PREVENT SPREAD OF SWINE FLU
Source: eventpolynesia.com
 

New Zealand boxing promoter and Samoan community leader Teleiai Edwin Puni’s decision to postpone next Tuesday’s planned boxing show to minimise the spread of swine flu is a welcome and responsible move.

The decision to postpone follows the announcement yesterday of New Zealand’s first five confirmed deaths linked to swine flu. Last month the Ministry of Health announced the current pandemic moving from the containment to the management stage.

Mr. Puni said, “Event Polynesia Boxing wants to take a responsible stance, contributing to the managing of the spread of swine flu in New Zealand and further afield.”

According to Mr. Puni, “The Otara promotion is a chance for swine flu to spread, given that the nine hundred plus attending, most are Pacific people, will come from all over Auckland, plus boxers from other parts of New Zealand and from Samoa.”

“The risk that fight fans and boxers alike could contract and spread the virus is too great, hence the postponement,” said Mr. Puni.

Mr. Puni said, “Pacific people are at high risk of contracting the H1N1 virus because of their communal nature and mobility in New Zealand and internationally. What we do not want is swine flu spreading to vulnerable Pacific Island nations.”

The second leg of the 2009 Fight for Unity Pro-Am tournament organised by Event Polynesia Boxing at the Otara Recreation Centre scheduled for 14 July will now be held 6 October.

The Otara event – an international boxing promotion – was established in 2007 to provide the much needed tournament for local talents. South Auckland has the largest Maori and Pacific communities in New Zealand.

Last year the tournament was renamed Fight for Unity Pro-Am to help tackle the recent violence in South Auckland by bringing the different ethnic communities together.

Event Polynesia organises a range of sports, entertainment and cultural events in New Zealand and the Pacific.

PHOTOS:

[1] Former Ministry of Foreign Affair, Hon. Winston Peters and Mangere MP Su’a Sio Williams at ringside last year.

[2] David Tua with former South Pacific Cruiserweight Bob Gasio at last year’s ‘Fight For Unity’ promotion.