Two Samoan Professional Boxers Win in Fiji

Saturday 25^th March 2023 in Fiji’s capital Suva, was no ordinary evening for two of Samoa’s Pacific Games Boxing Gold Medalists.

“It was a great experience to fight in Fiji. It was very exciting and different atmosphere from fighting in Samoa,” says Papali’i Jancen Poutoa

Marion Faustino Ah Tong and Papali’i Jancen Poutoa stepped in to foreign soil for the first time as professional fighters in the Pathway ‘The Pacific Showdown’ Boxing tournament that was held in Suva last Saturday.

Ah Tong walked in for his second professional bout and took out Fijian Super Welterweight, Abhay ‘Tiger’ Chand in a first round knockout.

Papali’i went into his professional debut bout against Fijian Light Heavyweight, Aminiasi Saratibau and won by unanimous decision.

“It’s always the ones that work the hardest in training and have the biggest drive to succeed, that get rewarded and make it look easy,” says Coach Steven Faoagali.

Jancen Papali’I Poutoa celebrating his win in Suva, Fiji (Photo: FBCA)

Marion and Jancen were part of a three man team that were preparing to compete in Fiji. The third fighter, Amateur Boxer Orrin King who is also under Steven Faoagali’s training camp in Australia knocked out his opponent in the first round.

“Ten weeks of absolute hard work, blood, sweat and sometimes tears, resulted in seconds of glory,” said Coach Steven.

Next for these boxers is the Amateur World Champs in May in Uzbekistan where Marion Ah Tong and Ato Plodzicki-Faoagali will represent Samoa in the upcoming world event.

Papali’i Jancen Poutoa will join Ah Tong and Faoagali to compete in the Pacific Games in the Solomon Islands in November which will be an Olympic Qualifying event for the Paris Olympics 2024.

“Everything I am doing now is helping me prepare for the Olympic qualifiers,” said Marion Ah Tong.