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According to an article he published, Ray Galoa, a promising amateur welterweight boxer who had just turned 21, had won six of seven fights in one season. Fiji Times August 2, 1982.
Ray had a natural love for boxing and he formed his own Navatu Boxing Club with other boys from the Kinoa area and was sure he would be selected for the Fijian team for the Commonwealth Games.
His scalping record includes 1979 South Pacific Games trialists Joseva Nakui and Viliame Lesu.
Another veteran amateur boxer that Galloa defeated last year was Baravabilo, a hard-hitting, experienced boxer.
Rey’s only defeat that year was to International Amateur Champion Sivi Tuatane of New Caledonia.
After defeating the New Caledonian player by a clear margin, Ray and his team, including tour manager Inoke Qarau, were shocked by the decision of the local umpire to allow Tuattan to play.
This “unfair” behavior and other apparently biased actions by New Caledonian officials triggered a strong reaction from manager Kalou, who was eventually imprisoned in a New Caledonian prison.
The promising Galoya is vying for a spot on the Fiji boxing team for the Commonwealth Games in September.
“I don’t think there’s any fighter in my division right now that can stop me from going to Brisbane,” the confident welterweight said.
But he admitted he might need to work harder against Atonio Tui, who won Tahiti welterweight gold earlier this year, and Netani Gucake, a Canadian Golden Gloves fighter, both from the Salvation Army club and included in a series of trials to select players for Brisbane.
When asked how he got into fighting, Galloya said he practiced fighting as a form of self-defense.
“People recognised my potential and soon my friends convinced me to join the boxing competition,” he said.
Boxing runs in his family
Galloa’s uncle was Sammy Galloa, who was considered one of the most scientifically minded boxers of the early 1950s.
The man who had knocked out the greats of Inoke Davu, Atunaisa Camaibau and other great boxers of the era in all his bouts, eventually died in the ring in 1956 at the age of 23 after being knocked out by Tom Hini.
Galloa’s father, Lorimar Cocanasiga (Semi Galloa’s brother), was a promising light heavyweight boxer who fought three light heavyweight championship matches against Cimeli Radrodro in the mid-1940s, drawing once and losing twice, including one by disqualification.
When he started taking boxing seriously, Galoya was training at the Chaman Club in Suva but found himself with few sparring partners.
“So, I gathered a few boys from Kinoya and we formed a boxing club.”
Thus the Navatu Boxing Club was established.
Galloa looked forward to his first win of 1982 the following evening, a victory that would be crucial to his chances of competing in the upcoming Commonwealth Games.
A boxing fan believes he is a medallist at the South Pacific Games but is unsure of his chances against top boxers from other Commonwealth countries.
The article stated, “Ray is very tough, hits hard, and plays with great style.”
But he is competing in these trials to prepare for the upcoming Olympics, where he hopes to win a medal.
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