One of the two sports in the 2023 Pacific Games in the Solomon Islands that offers the chance to earn quotas for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris is boxing.
Actually, this will be the first time ever that the boxing competition at the Pacific Games is used to qualify for the Olympics.
The event will be held in Honiara in the recently built National Friendship Hall, which has seating for 1500 spectators.
There will be seven weight divisions for men and six for women, with a spot in Paris 2024 guaranteed for the winners of each category.
You cover all the important details for the tournament in our preview below, including how to watch live action, a complete schedule, and how to qualify for Paris 2024.
Harry Garside and Caitlin Parker the headline acts
In the men’s draw, Harry Garside of Australia is the heavy favourite at 63 kg. The Victorian won the 60 kg gold medal in the 2018 Commonwealth Games and the Olympic bronze in Tokyo 2020 in 2021.
In the Solomon Islands, Teremoana Samson Teremoana Junior, Garside’s countryman in the super heavyweight class, is also expected to perform. In December 2022, the guy with Cook Island ancestry left the professional ranks to concentrate on getting ready for the 2024 Olympic Games. He advanced easily to the 2023 World Championships’ second round, where he was defeated by Uzbekistan’s Bakhodir Jalolov, the current Olympic and World champion.
In the heavyweight division, watch out for Samoan athlete Ato Plodzicki-Faoagali, who is currently the defending Pacific Games gold champion and trains with New Zealand professional star Joseph Parker.
Arthur Ray Lavalou, who won silver in the boxing medal at the 2019 Pacific Games, is probably Papua New Guinea’s greatest chance to take home a medal. The 92 kg fighter became interested in boxing after seeing the legendary Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao, and his aggressive style never fails to put on a show.
Jone Davule’s debut in the ring could rewrite the history of Fijian boxers, as Winston Hill was the last to qualify for the Olympics in Rio 2016. The police officer turned light welterweight wrestler took home silver from the 2019 Pacific Games and also claimed victory in the World Championships in Uzbekistan earlier in the year.
Even though Lautofa Ioapo only started boxing three years ago after quitting rugby, he is already being regarded as a possible welterweight champion. The Samoan quit his full-time job to pursue his goal of becoming a Paris 2024 qualifier and competing for American Samoa in the Pacific Games, just like his father did.
Lastly, keep a look out for Caitlin Parker in the competition for women. Australia’s Tokyo 2020 Olympian, a two-time Commonwealth Games champion, took home the silver medal at the 2023 World Championships in the 75 kg weight class.
Paris 2024 Olympic qualification spots
By winning their weight class at the Pacific Games in 2023, a total of 13 athletes—six women and seven men—will guarantee their National Olympic Committee an Olympic quota for Paris 2024.
Athletes’ ability to compete in the Paris Games is dependent upon their National Olympic Committee (NOC) choosing them to represent their delegation in Paris in 2024. NOCs hold the exclusive power over a country’s representation at the Olympic Games.
2023 Pacific Games boxing schedule
(All times are UTC +11)
Tuesday 28 November
13:00
Men’s 51 kg
Men’s 63.5 kg
Men’s 71 kg
Men’s 80 kg
Men’s 92 kg
Men’s 92+ kg
18:00
Men’s 57 kg
Men’s 63.5 kg
Men’s 71 kg
Men’s 80 kg
Thursday 30 November
13:00
Men’s 57 kg semi-final
Men’s 63.5.5 kg semi-final
Men’s 71 kg semi-final
Women’s 75 kg semi-final
Men’s 92 kg semi-final
18:00
Men’s 51 kg semi-final
Women’s 54 kg semi-final
Women’s 57 kg semi-final
Women’s 66 kg semi-final
Women’s 60 kg semi-final
Men’s 80 kg semi-final
Men’s 92+ kg semi-final
Friday 1 December
13:00
Women’s 54 kg final
Men’s 57 kg final
Women’s 75 kg final
Men’s 92 kg final
Saturday 2 December
13:00
Men’s 51 kg final
Women’s 50 kg final
Women’s 57 kg final
Women’s 60 kg final
Men’s 63.5 kg final
Women’s 66 kg final
Men’s 71 kg final
Men’s 80 kg final
Men’s 92 kg final
Men’s 92+ kg final
Where to watch the 2023 Pacific Games
Boxing at the 2023 Pan American Games takes place 28 November-2 December.
Here is a selected list of broadcasters for the Sol2023 Games:
- Australia – SBS, NITV
- Solomon Islands – SIBC TV, TTV
- New Caledonia, Tahiti (French Polynesia), Wallis and Futuna – France Télévisions
- Papua New Guinea – NBC
- Fiji – Fiji TV
- Samoa – SBC TV1
- Vanuatu – VBTC
- Tonga – Tonga Broadcasting Corporation
