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ASABF President’s Day Boxing tourney highlights Oceania championship possibles

The American Samoa Amateur Boxing Federation (ASABF) held a ‘President’s Day Boxing’ Tournament on Monday at the Department of Parks and Recreation compound in the Innouye Industrial Park in Tafuna, with six exciting matches and an exhibition match with American Samoa’s hard hitting Super Heavyweight Alapati Aasa.

In the lighter weight class, Kelepi Fata (141lbs) from the Henry Tavake boxing club, forced a stoppage in his fight against Tavake Fomai from the Lion Heart boxing club, when Fomai was unable to come out in the second round, giving the win to Fata.

One Tuala from the Tavake boxing club (161lbs), stopped Simon Fomai (166lbs) from the Lion Heart boxing club, in the 1st round with a TKO.

Two fighters from the Lion Heart, went to battle with one another, when Mata Samana (170lbs) won a split decision over Nel Pite (180lbs).

The hard hitting heavy weight from the Tavake boxing club, Riley Tuala (206lbs) made short work of Telesi Patu from the Mr. Lavalava boxing club, when he knocked Patu out at the 1:45 mark of the 1st round.

Without a doubt, the most well matched bout of the day came when, George Tanoa Jr. (168lbs) from the Tavake boxing club, went toe to toe in a match full of pinpoint accurate punches at full speed, against Junior Auomanu (170lbs) from the Booyaa gym in Mesepa, boxing club. At the end of the most exciting match of the day, all three judges scored the bout the same, having the referee raise both of the pugilists’ hands at the end of the bout.

A girls bout took place as well, when Moana Sunia (165lbs) from the Booyaa gym in Mesepa boxing club battled to a draw against Mina Pala (165lbs) also from the Booyaa gym boxing club.

The end of the day featured hard hitting heavyweight, Alapati Aasa who trains out of the Henry Tavake boxing club, fighting in two exhibition one-round fights against the always tough and hard hitting Abel Soliai and Joshua Ane from the Booyaa gym.

Samoa News spoke with the president of the American Samoa Amateur Boxing Federation, Mapu Jamias, on the fights.

“This was our very first test match, for 2012. It was encouraging to see these young lads coming out,” said Jamias. “The few experienced people that we have, such as Alapati Aasai, is our hopeful for a Gold medal at the next Oceania Boxing Championships next month and you need to get that Gold in the qualifiers, if you want to advance to the Olympics. I am hopeful that he will stand up to the toughest competition in Oceania that will be there, which will be from Australia and New Zealand,” he said.

The Oceania championships will start on March 21, 2012 in Australia.