The Army Boxing Team is in full preparation mode ahead of the upcoming Ratu Sukuna Bowl Competition, with the aim of reclaiming the boxing title for Army this year, and there is confirmation that 19 year old Tikiko Tavualevu who is part of Inspire Pacific's Tagane Mai Program and featured on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan, will also be part of the Army line-up next week.
Tikiko aims to represent Fiji one day in major competitions.
Army Boxing Manager Elizabeth Low says the team has been training intensively for the past three weeks.
She adds that the build-up has been very positive and the boxers are focused, disciplined, and ready to give their best in the tournament.
The team has shown significant improvement over last year, addressing weaknesses identified in previous competitions.
Low highlights Sakiusa Narara and Amini Saratibau as boxers to watch, while noting that the entire team has gained valuable experience through club games and other tournaments throughout the year.
Despite some sponsorship challenges, she says the team has reached out to organizations including Juice Fiji and the U.S. Embassy for support.
Low says they are hopeful for positive responses and appreciate all those who have shown interest in supporting their efforts.
The Army Boxing Team will face Police in three days of competitive boxing from next Monday to Wednesday at the Fiji Police Academy, and both sides are expected to put on a thrilling display of skill and sportsmanship.
From refusing to go to school and being addicted to drugs, 19 year old Tikiko Tavualevu who has graduated from the 14 week Tagane Mai Program run by Inspire Pacific in 2023 is now a peer mentor, and aiming to represent Fiji in boxing on the world stage one day.
Speaking on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan, Inspire Pacific Founder, Ben Morrison says the gradual seeds of encouragement is really working for boys and young men in the program like Tikiko, and it has been amazing how he has progressed in a short period of time.
Morrison says Tikiko previously always just wanted to be part of the crowd but he now does things on his own based on his vision.
Tikiko says he gets up every morning at 3am to train and as an amateur boxer now, he aims to be the champion for Fiji and eventually represent Fiji, and win gold.
He says he wants to move away from a life of struggle, and he aims to be a better man.
Tikiko says he wants to have his own family one day and give the best to his children in the future.
Tikiko, who is from Ra, says growing up, he just wanted to take drugs and did not want to go to school, and was eventually involved in a robbery when he was about 16 years old.
He was then placed in the Juvenile Centre where he kept thinking on why he did not listen to his mother and father.
Tikiko shares that he was determined to change for the better and that is when he came across Pastor Ben Morrison who is the founder and Chair of Inspire Pacific that runs the Tagane Mai Program.
He says for the first time ever, he shared his story with Morrison and then entered the 14 weeks Tagane Mai Program.
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