Sports Minister Launches ‘Judgment Day’ Fight Night
Sports Minister Seuula Ioane
Photo: Government of Samoa
The country’s Minister of Sports Seuula Ioane has launched the Next Generation ‘Judgment Day’ fight night where two of Samoa’s best – Ato Plodzicki-Faoagali and Marion Faustino Ah Tong – make their professional debut against Fiji.
Seuula, who is also the Minister of Education and Culture, spoke to fighters on Wednesday night at the official launch held at the Marist St. Joseph’s Sports Club in Lotopa
On behalf of the Government of Samoa, he welcomed all boxers who traveled to Samoa, from Fiji as well as Australia and New Zealand, for Judgment Day.
Samoa, a fiercely proud boxing nation, boasts some of the very best fists with world-renowned names such as David Tua, Lupesoliai Joseph Parker, Maselino Masoe and Jai Opetaia, the sports minister noted.
Boxing was introduced to Samoa by the Marist Brothers and Samoans have since excelled in the sport, winning gold medals at the Pacific Games, Seuula said.
Samoa's best Ato Plodzicki-Faoagali and Marion Faustino Ah Tong debut as professional boxers on Friday night at Judgment Day.
Photo: Ato Plodzicki-Faoagali/Facebook
“The sport of boxing was introduced to Samoa by the Marist Brothers. Aside from rugby and weightlifting, boxing is another sport that Samoa has always excelled in. Samoa would always win gold medals at the Pacific Games from boxing,” the sports minister said.
“We also have Samoans who have fought on the World stage in the likes of David Tua, Joseph Parker and Maselino Masoe to name a few. About seven years ago, Marist re-started their boxing ring. The aim was to develop our local talent and to win gold at the major international games.”
In February 2016, the Marist Boxing Samoa hosted its first Fight for Marist.
Since then, the Fight for Marist installment has become an annual event where Marist has been able to bring overseas boxers to either fight against local talent or appear as special guests, said Seuula.
“One such special guest was Jai Opetaia, the current World IBF Boxing Champion in the cruiserweight division,” he said.
“I am told that funds from the annual Fight for Marist events have helped develop and support those that fight under the Marist Boxing Ring. Two of those boxers are Ato Faoagali and Marion Ah Tong. Both of them had represented Samoa at the recent Olympic Games in Tokyo. Ato had also won back-to-back silver medals at the last two Commonwealth Games.”
The fighters from Fiji are top ranked, said Seuula.
“The next installment of the Fight for Marist (to be called Next Generation Judgment Day) is this Friday 25th November where both Ato and Marion will debut as professional boxers. They will be fighting against top ranked professional Fijian boxers,” he said.
Additional local boxers will be fighting against boxers from New Zealand and Australia.
“So this Friday will be quite a night to witness quality amateur and professional boxing,” Seuula said.
He urges everyone “to buy a corporate table for this Friday and support the sport of boxing.”
The sports minister acknowledged the Samoa Boxing Federation and the Samoa Professional Boxing Association for their support of Marist Boxing Samoa.
“I also want to take this opportunity to acknowledge Samoa Boxing Federation and Samoa Professional Boxing Association for supporting Marist Boxing Samoa. It is good to see the two associations in charge of amateur and professional boxing in Samoa come together to develop our local talent,” Seuula said.
“To our guests from Australia, New Zealand and Fiji I wish you all the best on fight night. I also hope you will find the time to visit our pristine beaches and enjoy our Samoan culture and hospitality.”
To our local boxers, he said: “sauni e tau le taua e pei ole tatou Toa Samoa lea faatoa maea atu le latou taaloga mataina. Ia malamalama tou mata, ia po uliuli tou tino, ma ia tafe toto tou ala. Ma tautuana ia outou, “E le sau le moa folau vivini i totonu o eleele o le moa fanua.”
Seuula thanked Marist for their work in developing boxing in Samoa and challenged them to prepare fighters to win gold medals at the next Olympic Games in Paris, France.
“Lastly, I want to thank Marist Boxing Samoa for helping to develop boxing in Samoa. My challenge to you Marist Boxing Samoa is build up our boxers so we can win Gold at the next Olympics Games in Paris, France. I wish you all the best and trust you will host a successful fight night this Friday,” he said.
Sports Minister Seuula said it was a “privilege” to officially welcome on behalf of the Government of Samoa all those taking part at this Friday’s ‘Next Generation Judgment Day fight night.’