24 February, 2010
BOXING SENSATION LETI LETI SIGNS WITH TKO BOXING PROMOTIONS
Source: eventpolynesia.com
 

Samoa boxing sensation Leti Leti has signed with TKO Boxing Promotions. The announcement was made on Monday by Leti’s Las Vegas based co-manager Cameron Dunkin to coincide with a special media conference in his home country of Samoa on Thursday this week.

Event Polynesia Managing Director and Leti’s Samoa based co-manager, Teleiai Edwin Puni, says this is a great achievement for Samoa where professional boxing is struggling to get commercial backing to fund the much needed professional tournaments.

According to Teleiai, “Leti is currently spending time with his family in Samoa before moving to the United States where he will be based and exposed to a new audience and U.S. television. Leti is going to be a bright light on the international stage and TKO Promotions is the perfect promoter.”

Leti, 22, has an impressive amateur history starting as Samoa Bantam Weight champ from 2003 to 2004 then Samoa Featherweight champ in 2006. 2007 Leti became Samoa Light Welterweight champ and won Samoa a Gold medal in the 2007 Oceania Tournament.

Leti moved to New Zealand later in 2007 and became the New Zealand Welterweight champ the following year as well as 2009 before he made his professional debut last month in Auckland, New Zealand, knocking out Aaron Bartlett in the first round of their January 31 bout.

“Leti is the goods and the hottest prospect to come out of the Samoa - New Zealand region since David Tua,” said Dunkin.

Teleiai also disclosed, “With a win each to Warren Fuiava (light heavyweight) and Vaitele Soi (cruiserweight) in Auckland last month in the New Zealand selection trials, both boxers have claimed the right to represent New Zealand in the upcoming Bloodisloe Cup and have set personal goals to join Leti in Las Vegas in the future.”

Warren Fuiava and Vaitele Soi’s success is a testimony of the pathway set up by Event Polynesia three years to the month in association with South Pacific Boxing Incorporated and the Samoa Amateur Boxing Association to deliver to the world stage more champions like Maselino Masoe, Jimmy Thunder and David Tua.

Teleiai added, “Look out for Afakasi Pele Faumui and Oli Filimaua in the next Samoa Pro Am Fights in Apia scheduled Tuesday 23rd March 2010.

PHOTOS:

[1] (L-R) Leti Leti in Auckland being congratulated by (left to right) former Manu Samoa captain and rugby legend Papaliitele Peter Fatialofa, his father Fainuulua Emelio former Samoa & South Pacific Heavyweight champion and WBO Asia Pacific Heavyweight contender, Lauaki Fred Tuilagi double international for Samoa in rugby and league, and Leapai Ricky Brown ‘The Samoan Bomber 52’ former NFL professional player.

[2] (L-R) (Standing left to right) Ricky Brown, Lauaki Fred Tuilagi, Chauncy Welliver (WBO Asia Pacific Interim Heavyweight Champion), John Glozzier (NZ co-manager), Teleiai Edwin Puni, Sooalo Setu Mua, Papaliitele Peter Fatialofa, Tuilagi Maiava Saipele Esera, (Seated left to right) Rosa Tomasi-Puni, Fainuulua Emelio Leti, Leti Leti and Ale Vena Ale of South Pacific Boxing Inc. after signing of ‘Management Agreement’ in October 2009.
 

24 August, 2009
SAMOAN GOVERNMENT DONATES $5,000 TO PROFESSIONAL BOXING
Source: eventpolynesia.com
 

Approval of $5,000 assistance by Cabinet last week towards the upcoming Samoa Pro-Am Fights (SPAF) in Apia on Tuesday 8th September has the professional boxing fraternity and boxing fans excited.

The grant has been given in support of Samoa local Pro-Boxers and upcoming sensation Vaitele Soi as the main event of the night against former PABA and IPF Pan Pacific champion Mohammed Azzaoui of New Zealand.

Soi who turned professional last year, has a record of six wins out of six fights, five wins by way of KO. His recent win in July in front of a capacity crowd at Faleata Gym 1 was in record time, knocking out his Fijian opponent in twenty five seconds into the first round.

The October promotion will feature veteran Welterweight former champion Ionatana Pula against up and coming Oli Filimaua. Other undercards includes Warren Fuiavailili verses Uale Leota in the Light Heavyweight division and Afakasi Pele Faumui against Tauave Vainuu in the Middleweight decision.

Mr. Tuilagi MS Esera of Event Polynesia Boxing said, “The financial assistance from Government is a huge boost to professional boxing in Samoa.”

“It will ensure we can continue to stage the much needed tournaments for local professional boxers to build their records, and to secure overseas opponents”, according to Mr Esera.

The announcement by Government comes at the same time professional boxing is celebrating another milestone, having its first two Samoan based professional boxers fighting for World Boxing Organisation (WBO) regional title shots in August.

Unfortunately, Seiaute Mailata’s (Samoa cruiserweight champion) challenge for the WBO Oriental Cruiserweight title against Dominic Vea of Australia was unsuccessful earlier in the month.

Dominic Vea is the current title holder after Lawrence Tauasa of Samoa who fought out of Australia lost the title after losing out in the Contender Series 4 TV tournament last year.

Setting the benchmark of professional boxing in Samoa to date now lies with Togasilimai Letoa’s (Samoa light heavyweight champion) taking a shot at the WBO Asia Pacific Interim title against NZ former Olympian and current light heavyweight champion, Soul Pounceby.

Letoa will be fighting on the 28th August at ASB Stadium Auckland ahead of the long awaited David Tua challenge on the 3rd October for the WBO Oriental and WBO Asia Pacific heavyweight titles currently with Shane Cameron.

Letoa and his corner Asiata Leon Stanley and Ale Vena Ale departs Tuesday for Auckland.

PHOTOS:

[1] (L-R) Togasilimai Letoa, Vaitele Soi & Seiaute Mailata.