Ato Faoagali and Marion Ah Tong score impressive victories on professional debut

By Talaia Mika

APIA, SAMOA – 28 NOVEMBER 2022: Two Samoan Olympian boxers have turned professional with impressive victories at the Next Generation Judgement Day 2022 at the Faleata Sports Complex last Friday.

Double Silver medallist, Ato Poldzicki Faoagali was true to his prediction that he was not going the full six rounds when he stopped his Fijian opponent, Apisa Naciqa in Round Three in the Cruiserweight division.

Ato was too powerful and consistently nullified the taller Naciqas longer reach who finally gave in to a technical knock out in Round Three.

Marion Ah Tong was also impressive and got a unanimous points decision over a sometimes elusive Ratu Domocokai also from Fiji in the Middleweight division.

Marion Ah Tong (right) got a unanimous points decision over Ratu Domocokai in the middleweight division.

The two Samoan professional debuts were the highlight of the Next Generation Judgment Day 2022 last Friday night that featured 20 amateur bouts between Samoan, Australian and New Zealand up and coming boxers.

While the skills of local boxers were evident, they however fell short in fitness and preparations compared to their Australian and New Zealand opponents in the amateur bouts. The local boxers were drawn from the local rings, namely Upolu-Savaii, Tumua ma Pule, Golden Gloves and Marist.

Ato Faoagali and Marion Ah Tong were sharp and well prepared for their professional debuts. Their dreams have come true by having their professional debuts in Samoa where it all started for them.

Ato Poldzicki Faoagali stopped Fijian Apisa Naciqa in the third round in the cruiserweight division.

Faoagali dedicated his first professional victory to his number one supporter, his late mother who passed away earlier this year while he was competing in the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.

“Today is the day I enter the cruiserweight world and it is a dream come true to have started my pro career in my beautiful Samoa,” he added.

Faoagali is a double Silver Medallist in the 2018 and 2022 Commonwealth Games. He also won Gold in the Pacific Games 2019.

Ato Faoagali displaying is belt with supporters.

Marion Ah Tong acknowledged his opponent for finishing all six rounds and said he was proud to have his first professional debut in Samoa with a victory of winning in the middleweight division.

“It’s been great fighting in front of my people and winning, I try to put on great fights to let everyone know that I have the skills and the ability not just to fight with hands but to fight with my heart and it’s been great,” he said.

His coach, Steve Faoagali said Marion did not give in his best and rated his performance on Friday a 7/10 although he was proud.

“He went off the game plan at times, some key calls he’s been training hard on he did not perform in the ring but when he does listen, he boxes beautifully,” he said.

Marion won Silver in the 2018 Oceania Youth Championship, Gold in the 2019 Pacific Games and Gold in the 2020 New Zealand Amateur Championships.

The Next Generation Judgement Day 2022 was organized by the Marist Boxing Association in collaboration with the Samoa Boxing Federation.