Ato Plodzicki-Faoagali

Boxer falls just short

The heavyweight lost out to local favourite Lewis Williams 5-0 on points on Monday morning.

Williams boxed sharp and clever to win the unanimous decision.

Just 24 hours earlier, Plodzicki-Faoagali progressed to the final in an epic battle of the Pacific in the semi-finals, defeating Niue's Duken Tutakitoa-Williams on points.

That was Niue's first-ever at the Commonwealth Games.

Plodzicki-Faoagali also won silver at the 2018 Games on the Gold Coast in the light-heavyweight division.

     

Samoa’s Ato Plodzicki-Faoagali confident of returning in 2024 Olympics

Ato who lost to a Belarus fighter in the Tokyo Olympics is not wasting any time.

He has now shifted his focus on to the next Commonwealth Games.

"I have unfinished business at the Commonwealth Games next year and God willing at the Paris Olympic Games in 3 years. I'll be back."

Ato lost to Uladzislau Smiahlikau in his first appearance in the men’s heavyweight division at the Tokyo Olympics.

Despite the loss, he has remained positive, working on areas that need improvement.

No international tournaments for Samoan boxers prior to Tokyo Olympics

This is due to travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 global pandemic.

The duo are currently in Australia training for the Tokyo Olympics in July.

Despite the lack of international competition time for a year, both Plodzicki-Faoagali and Ah Tong are aiming to bring home Olympic gold. 

They will travel to Tokyo in early July to compete in the Olympic Games.

     

Pacific boxers miss out on Tokyo

Samoan welterweight Marion Faustino Ah Tong was swept 5-0 by Jordanian fourth seed Zeyad Ishaish in their quarter-final clash in Amman on Sunday.

Ah Tong, 19, who won gold at last year's Pacific Games, received three standing eight counts during the bout with Ishaish advancing to the semi finals by unanimous decision.

The teenager has previously upset Iran's Sajjad Kazemzadeh Poshtiri 3-2 in the previous round, despite receiving a standing eight count in the final round.

Bigger, fitter, more focused: Samoan boxer targets Tokyo dream

The Sydney-based fighter rose to prominence by winning a silver medal at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and gold at last year's Pacific Games in Samoa.

He was among up to 10 Samoan boxers intending to travel to the Olympic qualifying tournament last month in Wuhan, China, which was cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The event will now be held in Jordan from 3-11 March and Plodzicki-Faoagali, 20, said it has forced him to reassess his preparation.