30/06/2025
🥊 Butterfly Boxing Club | TRI NATIONS AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP 🦋
The Kolitapa Siblings’ Journey
As the countdown began to the much-anticipated 2-day Tri Nations Amateur Boxing Championship, the Butterfly Boxing Club wasn’t just training—they were sacrificing. For one full month, the team pushed beyond limits, and two of its rising stars, the Kolitapa siblings, embodied the true spirit of discipline, grit, and perseverance.
Both juggling intense weekend rugby commitments back-to-back while preparing for the ring, the Kolitapas had no easy road. Entering the final two weeks before weigh-in, each was carrying 5kg over the competition weight limit—a daunting challenge by any standard.
💪 Cutting weight became a mental and physical battle. For days, meals were swapped for protein bars, and often, even those were a luxury. Instead, they fueled themselves with whatever they could—dhal porridge, light foods, and water—anything to help them drop those critical kilos.
👊 MERE KOLITAPA, one of the team’s proud warriors, shared:
> “It was more like... more water, less food, and even more training. Just had to keep going.”
As the competition drew closer, the nerves kicked in. But Mere reminded herself:
"Just show up. Trust the training. Trust the grind.”
Then came the match. The ring, the lights, the pressure and the surprise revelation: her opponent was a state champion. But that didn’t shake her. Mere stepped in, gave her all, and did exactly what she was trained to do.
“It was tougher than I expected,” she said. “But I did my best. And when I stepped out of that ring, I was just overwhelmed with gratitude. I couldn’t have done it without God, my coaches, and the Butterfly team behind me.
🥇 JOE NESTA KOLITAPA, her brother, had a battle of his own. His journey to the ring was no less intense:
“VERY HARD. VERY CHALLENGING. Waking up that morning to go down to Suva—I wanted to eat real food. Then I reminded myself to stay honest and focused.”
On game day, Joe was scheduled for the 31st bout. Earlier, he had been warned about his opponent’s power:
“I was told his punches are heavy power punches and body shots. I was scared. That fear was real. But I stuck to my game plan.”
There were no gloves available to prep with, so Joe had to shadow pad with bare hands in the changing room.
“From the 1st round to the last 10 seconds, I felt weak. My corner kept telling me: guard up, keep jabbing. I stayed positive.”
In the 2nd round, Joe admits he struggled to execute what his seconds advised. But by the 3rd round, he adjusted and delivered:
"I finally did what I didn’t do in round 2. After all 3 rounds, I was sure I won the 1st. But the 2nd and 3rd I wasn’t sure.”
When the announcer called out the blue corner as the winner, he couldn’t believe it.
“I was just thankful to God for the victory.”
Joe’s advice to other boxers:
“Always stay humble no matter where you are, above or below others. And always stay positive, no matter the situation.
🥊 COACHED BY LOVE, DRIVEN BY PURPOSE 🦋
The Kolitapa Siblings’ Journey Through the Eyes of a Parent Coach
As parents and former boxers ourselves, coaching our own children has been one of the most emotionally rewarding and challenging journeys we've ever taken.
There were moments when it broke me as a mother—waking them up at 4:30 a.m. for training, knowing they still had to get ready for school by 7 a.m. It’s never easy watching your children push through physical exhaustion, mental strain, and spiritual battles but to become champions, you must be forged in fire.
Training wasn’t a luxury. It was a sacrifice. Twice a day early mornings and again at 4 p.m we showed up. Not because it was easy, but because we believed in them.
We didn’t have fancy equipment. No dumbbells. No modern gym tools. We used whatever we had. Buckets filled with sand, old tires, bodyweight,ropes and sheer willpower. We improvised, we adapted, and we built strength out of scarcity.
What makes our club unique is its foundation FAMILY. From the coaches to the fighters, it's a home built by a mum and dad who understand the grind, the silence behind their struggles, and the emotions they sometimes can’t even put into words. They might think we don’t hear them but we do.
And we never charged a single cent. Training has always been free. No fees just love. Love for the sport, love for the kids, and love for anyone who walks through our doors.
This recent achievement by the Kolitapa siblings has not only strengthened them it has strengthened us. As husband and wife, it’s brought us closer. As parents, it’s taught us to lean on God for guidance. As coaches, it’s reminded us why we do what we do.
Before their match, I told them as a mum:
"No matter the outcome you will always be my babies."
And as their coach:
"Go out there, enjoy, and execute the plan. You've already made us proud."
There were many challenges cutting weight, controlling diets, staying motivated but through it all, we held onto four pillars that define our journey:
ENDURANCE.
PATIENCE.
HUMILITY.
FAITH.
To our Butterfly Boxing Club Vuvale thank you. Your love, support, and unwavering commitment fuel us. We’re not just building a boxing club we’re building a community. A transformation.
Stay positive. Keep the faith. And always remember
BUTTERFLY
WE TRANSFORM
🏆 This is more than boxing.
This is heart.
This is sacrifice.
This is what it means to transform.
With love,
❤️ Ana Raloka
| Butterfly Boxing Club
Sa Malo 🦋
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