Boxing for men, women starts at Games

WITH 10 weight classes for the men’s competition and three for the women’s, boxing action at the Don Bosco College on Savai’i, Samoa, begins today.
This is the start of four days of fierce competition, finishing on Friday with entry.
Boxing was included in the first Games in 1963 and the popularity of the sport continues to grow.
This year is the second Games to include women in the flyweight, lightweight and middleweight classes.
Papua New Guinea, Tahiti, and Samoa have traditionally dominated the sport but Federated States of Micronesia have shown great promise in the women’s division.
Savai’i is the third largest Polynesian island after Tahiti and New Zealand.
Fourteen nations are primed to compete in Savai’i, making history as the ‘big island’ will host the Games boxing events for the first time. American Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, PNG, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tahiti, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu will be represented in the ring.
“It was no accident to hold the boxing on the big island of Savaii,” said Games chief executive Falefata Hele Matatia. “It’s about inclusiveness to ensure that Savai’i plays a leading role in the Pacific Games.”
The Don Bosco Hall on Savai’i is home for most of the boxers competing to represent Samoa and the Samoa Boxing Federation is eyeing all the thirteen gold medals on offer.
– gamesnewsservice