“We’re looking forward and hoping they have a chance to be selected for the upcoming Australia tour,” she said.
Visila Kolitapa (holding gold medal) with daughter Merewalesi Kolitapa at the FMF Gymnasium on June 28, 2025.
Former national boxer and Boxing Commission of Fiji (BCF) board member Visila Kolitapa hopes that there will more international exposure for her children Merewalesi and Joe Kolitapa.
This followed their impressive win against their Australian counterparts last Saturday during the second day of the Tri-Nations competition at the FMF Gymnasium, Suva.
Mere won on unanimous points decision against Australia’s Ivy Dawson in the juniors (15-16 years) 57-60kg lightweight division.
Her brother Joe was victorious against Oliver Leslie in a split-points decision in the light middle weight category. Leslie knocked out his Fijian opponent in the first round on day one of the competition.
Kolitapa said their skills set was crucial was for that win.
“We’re looking forward and hoping they have a chance to be selected for the upcoming Australia tour,” she said.
“We saluted them for their performance because we know the hardwork they put in. They lost 5kkgs in two weeks to meet the weight category and they proved themselves in the ring and delivered the results.
“We came as undercover. This was their toughest fight yet; it took a lot of sacrifice, discipline and hardwork,” Koliatapa added.
Joe Kolitapa (left) at the FMF Gymnasium on June 28, 2025.
Their father and former national amateur boxing star Temo Kolitapa said their children start their day at 4:30am. They train for an hour before they prepare for school.
“They are still learning, we told them that whatever the outcome would be, we will salute them because we know how hard they worked every day,” he said.
He indicated Mere also represented Fiji in AFL and currently pays fullback for the Sigatoka Methodist College Under-16 side in the Weet-Bix Raluve Trophy competition.
“My advice to her was no matter how many sports you are representing; your studies should be your priority.”
The Kolitapa’s are members of the Butterfly Boxing Club and are coached and trained by their parents in Sigatoka.
They have about seven amateurs boxers, three professionals and more than 20 grassroots boxers.
He also acknowledged and thanked Fiji Amateur Boxing Association (FABA) for bringing international fights to Fiji where boxers would upgrade their skills.
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