The battle between the two local boxing federations to see which will host the Flag Day Boxing Tournament is still up in the air. One says they should host the event as they are American Samoa’s only recognized boxing federation registered with the local Olympic Committee (American Samoa National Olympic Committee), Oceania Boxing Federation and AIBA (International Boxing Association) for World and Olympic competitions; while the other says for both to share in the funding for the event, they should have a boxing competition between the two federations during the tourney.

Last week, President of the American Samoa Boxing Council (ASBC) Toleafoa Henry Tavake confirmed to Samoa News that the Flag Day Committee has given them the green light to host the Flag Day Boxing Tournament, and a team of 13 boxers from Samoa will be coming over to be part of this boxing tournament.

Team Samoa includes 11 amateur boxers and two professional boxers.

Meanwhile, during the American Samoa Boxing Federation (ASBF) meeting last Thursday to discuss their future plans and also to finalize a program for their Flag Day boxing competition, some members raised the issue about Toleafoa’s Flag Day Boxing Tournament, and rumors about the money that the Flag Day Committee has given to Toleafoa to fund the ASBC boxing tournament.

Up to ten members of the ASBF Board attended their meeting, held at the old VA building in Tafuna, and chaired by their president, Mapu Jamias. Samoa News was invited to sit in on the meeting.

Many members of the ASBF questioned the decision by the Flag Day Committee to give the money to Toleafoa, who is promoting professional fighting in American Samoa, while they (ASBF) are promoting amateur boxing in American Samoa, which is now changed to Olympic Open Style Boxing.

A recommendation by some senior members of the ASBF was for all members and the board to fully support seeking assistance from the Flag Day Committee and to let them know about this situation.

As a result, Mapu and three other members of the ASBF went to meet with the Secretary of Samoan Affairs Mauga Tasi Asuega last Friday morning, who is also the co-chair of the Flag Day Committee, but they were met instead by Tuiagamoa Tavai, the Deputy Secretary of Samoan Affairs, who is a member of the Flag Day Committee too.

During this brief meeting, Mapu explained everything he felt about the situation and said the American Samoa Government should know about the role of the ASBF in promoting boxing in the territory and around the world, and the reason why they feel the Committee should give their full support to them for their Flag Day boxing competition.

He said the ASBF is “American Samoa’s only recognized boxing federation registered with the local Olympic Committee (American Samoa National Olympic Committee), Oceania Boxing Federation and AIBA (International Boxing Association) for World and Olympic competitions.

And, while the Samoa Boxing Federation (SBF) is also a recognized member of the Oceania Boxing Federation and AIBA, Mapu told Tuiagamoa both ASBF and SBF play the same role for promoting Olympic Open Style Boxing locally and around the world, and they are the only two recognized boxing federations by AIBA that can conduct boxing competitions between the two Samoans, because they’re both introducing Olympic Open Style Boxing — not Professional boxing.

Tuiagamoa thanked Mapu and members of the ASBF for informing him about these issues that they are unaware of, and he assured them that he would explain everything they discussed to the Committee in their next meeting.

Mapu also sent a letter to Mauga informing him about their plans for the ASBF upcoming Flag Day boxing competition, and requested their financial support.

According to the letter, obtained by Samoa News, ASBF will host their Flag Day boxing competition at the Pago Pago gym on Thursday, April 16, 2016, and they will also invite several athletes from Samoa “to promote neighborly goodwill.”

“We need your financial assistance to help defray expenses during our Flag Day celebration, while at the same time preparing our athletes for future competitions,” said Mapu in the letter.

“We are not part of Henry Tavake’s Professional Boxing Promotions. He is in it for business while we are in it for non-profit. I humbly thank you in advance for any support given,” Mapu wrote.

When Samoa News asked Toleafoa to confirm if he has received any financial assistance from the Flag Day Committee to assist him and his boxing federation to host the Flag Day Boxing Tournament, the president of the ASBC said, “No I haven’t receive any financial assistance from the Flag Day Committee, but if Mapu and his boxing federation want to share the money between them and my boxing federation, then accept my challenge for a boxing competition between us.”

Toleafoa said he has already spoken to Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga about the Flag Day Boxing Tournament, and the governor has given his blessing and support to him and his boxing federation to host the tournament.

Toleafoa believes that “the people only want to watch two good boxers fighting inside the ring, and I can assure you American Samoa that I have all the best and elite boxers who can fight and entertain you.”

Since he is also a member of the Flag Day Committee, Toleafoa said that he would talk to the Committee about this issue.

A reliable source told Samoa News that the governor is planning to call a special meeting with Toleafoa and Mapu when he arrives on island this week to sort things out and to bring their differences to an end.

When asked by Samoa News, both Mapu and Toleafoa said they would agree to meet with the governor if he asks — that will be the best way to sort things out, they said.