02 June, 2009
EVENT POLYNESIA BOXING PRESENTS 3RD LEG OF THE SAMOA PRO-AM FIGHTS 2009
Source: eventpolynesia.com

SAMOA PRO-AM FIGHTS

Faleata Gym 1 - Tuesday 2 June, 2009

Event Polynesia Boxing is proud to present the 3rd Leg of the Samoa Pro-Am Fights of 2009. On behalf of EP Boxing and its Associate Partners, we welcome you to Faleata Gym 1 on Tuesday evening 2 June to the excitement of the Samoa Pro-Am Fights and to witness ‘Samoa’s Best Under One Roof”.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls – Fight Fans …. Welcome to the Samoa Pro-Am Fights!

More significantly, the Fights will be an annual Independence Pro-Am Fight Event for festivities and celebration of our country’s self-governance. Accordingly, to quote Prime Minister Honourable Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi's direction to Event Polynesia Boxing on the introduction of the Samoa Pro Am Fights early this year, he stated that “Samoa needs to establish the Samoa Pro Am Fights to foster the Pathway for Samoan Boxing so that our elite boxers who have represented Samoa with distinction over the years in the amateur ranks can move on to professional honours and careers. I have all the confidence that boxing is one sport that will continue to provide our country with World Champions”. Maselino Masoe is the first Samoan to become a world champion and that was from the sport of boxing.

The resurgence and revival of Samoa Pro-Am Fights and its pathway is also credited to the support of Government, TAB and our Business Partners that have given their support selflessly. “We credit the close working relationship and collaboration of all stakeholders and parties in the boxing fraternity for the current resurgence of boxing in Samoa. These bodies include Government and TAB, the Samoa Amateur Boxing Association - SABA, Tumua ma Pule, Upolu-Savaii and SPBI” according to Ale Vena Ale - Secretary General for South Pacific Boxing Incorporated – SBPI. Ale also credited Event Polynesia for the creation of the Samoa Pro-Am Fights and the collaboration process to bring all parties to work together.

It has been over two years now since Event Polynesia Boxing and Partners have presented the boxing pathway to the Prime Minister and government. The boxing pathway for Samoan boxers also include a circuit of promotions in New Zealand started in late 2007, which is the next step up for our boxers in the international arena. Through the Samoa Pro-Am Fights, Samoa has also hosted major boxing events for the first time which included the first ever world boxing event in Samoa in a WBO Cruiserweight title held in February 2008. The other significant step forward due the SPAF is the utilization of our sports facilities resulting in the current collaboration and partnership with the Samoa Sports Facilities Authority. Hon Minister of the SSFA - Faumuina Tiatia Liuga and the SSFA Board and Management has to be commended for their receptiveness and leadership. Samoa now hosts 5 Pro Am Fight Events a year at a world class sports venue.

The Program for the Independence Samoa Pro Am Fights is as follows:

• 10.00am Thurs 28 May Press Conference at STA Fale Eleele Fou
• 7.00am Mon 1 June Boxing Clubs Assemble for Independence March Past By the Samoa College and Scopa March at Mulinuu
• 10.00am Mon 1 June SPAF Boxers Weigh-in at STA Fale Eleele Fou
• 6.00pm Tues 2 June Samoa Pro Am Fights Faleata Gym 1, Tuanaimato

The March Past organized for Independence celebrations is to pay homage to Samoa’s boxing legends and the current class of boxers including the administrators and coaches who work tirelessly to develop boxing in Samoa” stated Teleiai Edwin Puni – Managing Director of Event Polynesia Boxing. The country will witness the glitter of the multiple medals and gold trophies and medals that boxing has honored Samoa with over the years. So welcome those heroes who paved the way for Samoa and bring your gold to Mulinuu and flash them proudly.

We take this opportunity to offer our sincere Faafetai Tele to our Associate Partners including:
Afioga Tupua Fred Wetzell and Apia Concrete Products, Motor 1 from New Zealand, Faleula o Samoa, Martin Hautus, Hennies Motel, Funway Rentals, Pacific Freight Samoa Limited, Samoa Commercial Bank, Bluebird Lumber and our Media Partners TV3, Samoa Observer and Radio 2AP.

The future of the Samoa Pro-Am Fights and its Pathway lies with the financial support from Government and the Business Sector to help sustain the financial costs and continue the momentum of the Samoa Pro-Am Fights. We look forward to the public’s support to come to Faleata and witness the resurgence and be part of the winners circle. Come see firsthand the updated development of future Samoan world champion boxers right here at home.

Organizers will use the SPAF on June 2 to select boxers for the next EP Boxing Event to be held on Tues July 14 in Auckland New Zealand.
There will be 6 Top-Flite Amateurs and 5 Pro Undercard Showdowns!
The Main Event will feature Samoa’s own –Miki Otto Ropati – ‘da Hands of Stone’ vs. the African Warrior – Joseph Kwanjo in a 10 x 3 Super Middleweight Spectacular!

LET’S GET READY TO RUUUUMMMMBBBBLLEE!

EP BOXING CALENDAR 2009 – APIA,
Faleata Gym 1
Saturday 31st January
Thursday 30th April
Tuesday 2 June - Independence
Tuesday 1 September – Teuila Festival
Tuesday 8 December & Honorary Awards

PHOTOS:

[1] Professional Undercard boxers with Miki Otto.

[2] Professional Undercard boxers with Joseph Kwadwo.

[3] Main Event boxers Miki 'Hands of Stone' Otto and Joseph 'African Warrior' Kwadwo.
 

28 January, 2009
COUNTDOWN TO SAMOA PRO-AM FIGHTS
Source: eventpolynesia.com

Samoan Fight Fans excitedly await the fireworks and beginning of the Samoa Pro-Am Fights 200IX calendar set to start this Saturday at Marist, Mulivai Hall with the first of four (4) legs of exciting Pro-Am Fights to be held in Apia, Samoa this year.

The other 3 legs include the 2nd leg during the Independence, 3rd leg in September rounded up by the 4th leg in December.

The highlight event for Samoa is the Samoa International Pro-Am Fight (SIPAF); launched in 2008. The event for 2009 is been finalized for Saturday 21 March with a World Boxing Organisation regional Title Fight featuring Alex ‘The Lion Heart’ Leapai, Samoan heavyweight fighting out of Australia. The SIPAF was endorsed by Government in 2008 as the pathway for Pro-Am Boxing in Samoa with the inaugural event held in February last year featuring Samoa’s Lawrence Tauasa winning the World Boxing Organizations Cruiserweight Oriental Title.

The Samoa Pro-Am Fights (SPAF) is a Sporting Entertainment Event and is the first step of the boxing pathway spearheaded by Event Polynesia Boxing in Association with SPBI and SABA to provide the next step up for champion amateurs moving up to the professional ranks.

The main event for the SPAF will always feature a regional title fight plus exciting professional under-cards.

Main Event is the ‘Duel in Samoa’ for the vacant South Pacific Cruiserweight title between South Pacific Heavyweight Champion ‘Hurricane’ Seiaute Mailata of Samoa battling it out with the South Pacific number one contender “da Body’ Hemalota Kaile’a of the Kingdom of Tonga for the title. Kaile’a arrives today from Tonga.

Main Under-card - Fight fans will be treated to a world-class showcase between Ghana welterweight champion ‘The African Warrior’ Joseph Kwadjo testing the mettle of Samoan amateur champ and 2007 Oceania Silver medallist Afakasi Pele Faumui – ‘Da Samoan Cobra’. This encounter will be a show-stopper. Kwadjo arrived in Samoa a week ago.

Undefeated Samoan Light Heavyweight sensation ‘Battling’ Togasilimai Letoa of Lalomauga takes on ‘Hands of Stone’ Miki Otto Ropati of Faleula for the vacant Samoa Light Heavyweight Belt.

To complete line-up for this Tier, top amateurs will be featured in a Savaii-Upolu challenge to provide our top amateurs not only with a higher-level tournament, but also for them to experience a professional fight environment rubbing shoulders with the professionals. It is also a positive spectacle to teach and entice our young men and women to take up a highly technical and safe sport that could land them lucrative professional employment in the future.

Tickets and for more information, contact Event Polynesia Office (+685) 28801,Tuilagi MS Esera (+685) 751-9458 or Ale Vena Ale (+685) 777-3614.

PHOTOS:

[1] International Middleweight Contest: Ghana welterweight champion ‘The African Warrior’ Joseph Kwadjo vs. Samoan amateur champ and 2007 Oceania Silver medallist ‘Da Samoa Cobra’ Afakasi Pele Faumui.

[2] Samoa Light Heavyweight Title: Undefeated Samoan Light Heavyweight sensation ‘Battling’ Togasilimai Letoa vs. ‘Hands of Stone’ Miki Otto Ropati.