There was plenty of sports action during this year’s 2014 Flag Day celebration, including this past Wednesday’s boxing — that had fighters from Samoa competing against local talent in the amateur ranks, battling for the Governors Cup at the Samoana High School gym. There were also two professional bouts on the card. The boxing event drew close to 400 spectators.

GOVERNOR’S CUP

Before the two professional bouts that headlined the night, there were eight amateur matches between American Samoa and Samoa for the American Samoa Governor’s Cup. Unfortunately for team American Samoa, they were only able to pull out one win in the eight amateur fights, handing the Governors Cup over to Team Samoa.

In the Light Weight Division (131-135 lbs) Jensen Poutoa of Samoa got off to a slow start against American Samoa’s Keach Tanoa, but it was not long before he found his range against Tanoa to take the Unanimous Decision win over the American Samoan.

The only win for the night for Team American Samoa was in the second fight when Kelepi Fata (Welter Weight 141-147 lbs) appeared to fight a conservative fight not wasting any punches and connecting on the few he did throw against a very game and aggressive Sui Palauni who had most of his punches blocked by Fata, who pulled out a Unanimous Decision win for Team American Samoa.

One of the most entertaining fights of the night came in the Middle Weight Class (155-160 lbs), when Henry Tyrell of Samoa faced off against Sinapapa Leao from Team American Samoa. Both these heavy hitters traded punches in each of the three rounds, but Tyrell was a split second faster and quicker giving him the slight edge in all three rounds and the victory.

One of American Samoa’s young rising stars George Tanoa stepped into the ring against Samoa’s 2011 Pacific Games Gold Medalist Petelo Matagi in the Light Heavyweights (169-175 lbs). Tanoa was able to hold his own throughout, landing some quality shots and earning one of three rounds against the Gold Medal winner Matagi who walked from this one with a Split Decision against Tanoa.

In the Heavy Weight Division, Ofisa Talimalo of American Samoa just fell short of a Split Decision win against Ioane Paulo of Samoa, who pulled out a Split Decision win over the American Samoan.

One of the highly anticipated match-ups of the night was supposed to take place in the Heavy Weight Division against Robert Toilolo and Samoa’s 2011 Pacific Games Bronze Medalist Filimaua Hala. The fight never materialized due to what was told to Samoa News was an injury to Toilolo, giving the victory to Hala.

American Samoa’s Super Heavy Weight Riley Tuala was overwhelmed by Samoa’s Paddy Jr. Leui’i, who earned a Unanimous Decision win over the much smaller Tuala.

In the only female bout of the night, Fan Atina’e of Samoa won in the first round when Onolina Viliamu of American Samoa appeared to hurt her shoulder less than one minute into the fight and could not continue, giving the victory to Atina’e.

PROFESSIONAL BOUTS

First up in the professional fights was Henry Tupa’i (Heavy Weight) of American Samoa facing Potoa Faleseu of Samoa in a scheduled four-round fight. The second round had Faleseu tiring and winded against the hard-hitting Tupa’i. One minute and fifteen seconds into the second, the towel was thrown in from Falesu’s corner, as he was not able to continue due to the punishment he suffered from the hard body shots from Tupa’i.

The main event of the night was American Samoa’s ‘Heat Man’ Alapati Aasa (Heavy Weight) who sported a perfected 4-0 record with 3 Knock Outs, against Samoa’s Opetaia Tuli who brought an impressive 14-2 record of his own into the ring.

At the 1:08 mark of the first round, the Heat Man stopped Tuli with an attack of pin point accurate punches to the head and the body, forcing Tuli to his knees ending the fight and bringing the 400 plus crowd to their feet shouting “Heat Man, Heat Man” to end the night.