Fiji’s featherweight boxer, Ubayd Haider, formerly known as Nathan Singh, has passed away following a controversial fight in Nadi. Haider, who was placed in an induced coma after undergoing emergency brain surgery, had been knocked out in the 9th round of a match against Australian-based Chinese boxer Runqi Zhou at a South Pacific Boxing Promotion. His older brother, Sebastian Singh, a cruiserweight boxer, shared a tribute on Facebook, expressing his sorrow and promising that Haider would always be remembered. The fight has sparked serious concerns about the management of boxing events in Fiji, particularly regarding the promoter’s failure to conduct mandatory drug tests for the fighters.
The Fiji Boxing Commission has launched a Commission of Inquiry into the incident, though the results have not yet been made public. The inquiry, which began on October 30th, is investigating the lack of drug testing and other irregularities, such as the discovery of Epinephrine and needles in the warm-up area at King Charles Park. The International Boxing Organization had sanctioned the title fights and required drug tests after each match, but none were carried out. Haider’s camp is questioning the handling of the event, including the absence of an ambulance and insurance, as well as whether the fight should have been stopped earlier due to Haider’s condition. Promoter Fredy Chand confirmed that no drug tests were done after the fight, further fueling the concerns surrounding the incident.
Rest with all our love Nathan🤍
