Boxing brothers debut in Pacific Games

Power lifting and Shooting events take place this week with Maxine Edwards and Danny Nemani left for power lifting this coming Thursday.  

Making special debut at the Pacific Games today are brothers Zalmon Meti Mata’u aged 19 and Bravely Mata’u aged 22.

The boxing takes place at the Don Bosco stadium in Savaii with the team requiring to travel over the weekend from mainland Upolu.

In the welter 69kg category, Zalmon Meti Mata’u is up against Marion Faustino Ah Tong from Samoa while in the lightweight Heavyweight 81kg category Bravely Norman Meti will meet Ken Stone William Hurrel from Tonga.

Bravely started at a young age of 12 with his younger brother Zalmon following suit at the age of 13.  Bravely was covered in the Samoan news as reverting to boxing as a result of being bullied at schools. The parents enrolled him in boxing for self defence and has been boxing ever since.

Both are now elite boxers able to box anyone with both agreeing also that anyone they fight at the Games is a competitor requiring both to bring their ultimate best in the ring.  Their dad is Samoan and their mum Niuean from the village of Tamakautoga.

Bravely said he’s always wanted to fight for Niue since he was little and looks forward to continuing representing Niue.

“I’ve always wanted to fight for Niue” he said

Younger brother Zalmon spoke of his discipline in the lead up to the Games with a special message that most parents probably couldn’t agree more with and that training starts from the home.

“I think a lot of discipline” said Zalom

The other Niue boxer Travis defeated Fiji yesterday in his first boxing match, and it’s understood he’ll compete again this coming Friday in Savai’i.

Story by Fiafia Rex