“The investigation has the power also to find some criminal offenses. At the moment, we will leave it with them (Board for Enquiry) before they make a submission,” he said.
The investigation team on the death of featherweight boxer Ubayd Haider has already interviewed all the local individuals involved in the fight.
This was confirmed to SUNsports yesterday by the Minister of Youth and Sports Jese Saukuru.
“We still have the last six people from overseas left to be interviewed and the investigation will be finishing this week,” Saukuru said.
“Once the interviews are completed (compiled) and together with the findings on the (submitted) report a decision will be made.”
It is understood that South Pacific Boxing Promotion (SPBP) director Mohammed Shameem, promoter Fred Chand, IBO (International Boxing Organisation) Fight Commissioner Justin Kennedy, referee Ignatuis Missailidis and a few overseas experts are left to be interviewed.
Haider collapsed after his ninth round TKO (technical knockout) loss to Sydney-based boxer Runqi Zhou for the IBO Asia Pacific super featherweight title fight at Nadi’s Prince Charles Park on Saturday, October 26. He was taken to Zen’s Medical and transferred to Lautoka’s Aspen Hospital where he underwent head surgery as he was in a coma. He failed to recover and died on November 10. Haider was buried at the Raralevu Cemetery in Tailevu on November 12.
He is the fourth Fiji boxer to have died from head injuries sustained in the fight. The other three boxers were heavyweight Semi Galoa in 1953 at Suva’s Lilac Theatre, then in 1975 was welterweight boxer Waisea Tavusa at Suva’s Old Town Hall and in 1990 middleweight boxer Filimoni Takayawa at the National Gymnasium in Suva.
Saukuru said what is paramount here is the welfare of the athletes.
This was after questions were raised on why the fight was not stopped earlier.
In an earlier interview with Boxing Commission of Fiji (BCF) chairman Adi Narayan indicated that only two people are authorised to stop the fight, which is the referee and the boxer’s corner man.
Saukuru said the public should expect an answer after this week.
He added that at the moment there is an unclear view on how the investigation would shift as there are a lot of things that have to be taken into account.
“The investigation has the power also to find some criminal offenses. At the moment, we will leave it with them (Board for Enquiry) before they make a submission,” he said.
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