THE Boxing Commission of Fiji is proposing a reduction in the percentage of the advance payment made to boxers.
Under the current BCF regulations the promoters are required to hand over 25 per cent of the purse to the boxers before their fights. This money is used by the boxers in their preparations.
BCF board member Malakai Veisamasama said they were proposing to reduce the advance payment to 10 per cent.
He said this was to safeguard the promoters from being cheated by boxers who pulled out from the program because of dubious reasons.
"We have learnt a lesson after Junior Farzan Ali pulled out of the fight against Opeti Tagi," Veisamasama said.
"The BCF feels that there are people out there who want to sabotage programs. From now on the boxers will undergo a full medical check up two weeks before their fight.
"The boxers are professionals so the onus is on them to look after themselves. If a boxer is not fit then the promoter will have time to find a suitable replacement.
"We have to get things in order. The percentage of the advance payment to boxers will be reduced to 10 per cent. This is just to safeguard the promoters who are investing a lot of money in the sport. When boxers pull out then that money goes to a waste."
Former Fiji boxing glamour boy Zulfikar Joy Ali was originally supposed to fight Tagi but pulled out in January because injury. His brother Junior Farzan was roped in as a replacement but he pulled out after suffering a wrist injury.
According to an independent medical report Junior Farzan had visited the first doctor two weeks before the fight after injuring his wrist. There was tenderness of the 1st metacarpophalangeal joint but the X-rays were clear. Junior Farzan refused treatment.
Meanwhile the commission has ordered Junior Farzan to payback the 25 percent which was given to him by the promoter for preparation purposes.
"According to the translation of the commission chairman (John Rabuku) who is also a lawyer, his refusal to take medical assistance was indication for his refusal to participate," Veisamasama said.