Thursday’s Fight Night cancelled, International reps named
The big Fight Night set for Thursday at the Tupapa Youth Centre has been cancelled.
The announcement was made by the executive committee of the Cook Islands Amateur Boxing Association (CIABA) at its Board meeting on Tuesday afternoon.
Several coaches from boxing clubs advised the Committee that their young boxers were committed to school exams and had not attended training. It was then proposed that the next Fight Night be held early next year and that the Tahitians be invited to attend. There was also an invitation from the Tahitians to consider. They had offered to pay the expenses for three boxers and two officials to Tahiti.
The Committee announced the three boxers so far nominated for the Oceania Champs in March next year. This event will be a qualifying event for the Olympics in London in 2012.
The boxers are;
Eddie Daniel, Matthew Titoa and Jubilee Arama.
Daniel and Arama both represented the Cook Islands at the last Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. More names may be added later.
The Committee also approved commencing a programme next year to promote boxing in the outer islands.
Boxing enjoyed a good year in 2011 with the establishment of regular Fight Nights at the Tupapa Youth centre which is gradually becoming recognized by boxing fans as the home venue for fights. Crowd attendance has slowly increased and better things are expected next year. 2011 saw the participation of teams from Aitutaki and Atiu who put on a display of fast, furious, no nonsense boxing which the crowds thoroughly enjoyed. The Fight Night events were professionally conducted by trained and qualified Judges and Referees. Next year will see computer scoring introduced.
The class boxer had to be Eddie Daniel who picked up a Bronze Medal from the South Pacific Games in Noumea. Osalai Hagai continues to improve and a big mover was the super heavyweight Bernard Okotai. John Andrew from the Arorangi Club has followed his father into the sport and demonstrated he is the most promising up and comer who looks to have a big future if he stays on track. -Charles Pitt

Herald Issue 554 09 March
- Norm exposes Trio of Doom
- Briefs from PM’s media conference Tuesday
- Tourism Industry ponders $5 million draft strategy
- Norman George resigns from Cook Islands Party
- Letter of Resignation from CIP
- Norman selfish says Prime Minister