SINGAPORE – Singapore could soon become a destination for top-class boxing bouts if local-based professional boxing management and promotion company Ringstar Management has its way.

Founded five months ago, they are looking to make themselves heard with the Roar of Singapore event next month, which will feature an unprecedented four Universal Boxing Organisation (UBO) title fights. It will be held at the Foochow Building at Tyrwhitt Road on Feb 17.

Scott O’Farrell, who started Ringstar five months ago, believes this is only the start of more to come in his plans to put the Lion City on the world boxing map.

“If we are going to do the beginning, we are going to do it well,” he said at a press conference on Thursday (Jan 12) at the Penny Black pub at Boat Quay. “We just (have to) keep filling seats… bring the crowd, entertainment and most of all, the talent.  We are going to make Singapore a real destination for real, professional and exciting boxing.”

The Roar of Singapore will be headlined by Canada’s undefeated light heavyweight fighter Ryan Ford and his UBO Light Heavyweight World title bout against Sam Rapira of New Zealand. It will be televised by Eleven Sports.

That could be followed by a UBO world title fight involving Chad Bennett, the former two-time World Boxing Federation (WBF) welterweight champion who has signed a four-year deal with Ringstar.

“I think he’s going to give me a fight here in April 28, which would be a good start to get back, but we are hoping to fight for a major world title - maybe IBF (International Boxing Federation) , IBA (International Boxing Association), or WBC (World Boxing Council) by September,” said the 43-year-old Australian, who is returning to the sport after a 14-month hiatus.

Bennett added: “I am really hoping I can help boxing in Singapore, not only in the ring but outside of it, with the experience I have from being involved in boxing for close to 30 years.”

O’Farrell is also determined to help the local boxing scene scale new heights again, asserting that Ringstar will work with amateur boxing and help “bring the bridge” closer to professional boxing.

“What you are seeing in front of you now is the face of professional boxing in Singapore,” the 45-year-old declared.

“We are going to show the boxers that if you are a professional athlete and you want to reach these great heights, we are the way to go. We don’t have the (Manny) Pacquiaos or the Floyd Mayweathers right now, but that doesn’t mean we won’t.”

Syed Abdul Kadir, president of the Singapore Amateur Boxing Association, added: “In the 40s, 50s and 60s, Singapore was known as the mecca of professional boxing, but it died down because of promoters who did not really promote the sport. I am very sure now boxing will come up, because there are still a lot of boxing fans in Singapore.”

Singaporean Rafi Majid will be contesting one of the four UBO titles when he challenges for the vacant UNO Super Middleweight Asia Pacific belt. Should he win, the 36-year-old will become Singapore’s first male professional boxing champion.

“I am very, very excited for this fight,” he said. “I hope all of you can come by and see - it’s going to be one hell of a night.”

While Rafi has fought just three bouts since turning professional last year as compared to his experienced Indonesia opponent Jonatan Simamora’s 57, Juggernaut Fight Club head coach Arvind Lalwani is confident of his protege’s chances.

“He’s ready for the step up,” said Lalwani, whom Rafi trains under. “Rafi has good power for his weight…we are training for an eight-round fight and I am pretty confident Rafi will knock him out."

Nurshahidah Roslie, Singapore’s first female professional boxing champion, and Ridhwan Ahmad will be the other two Singaporeans in action.

Lalwani, who is also the president of the Singapore Fighting Championship, is optimistic about the sport’s future here: “I’ve put up five shows last year already and we are progressing; with Ringstar coming in, we are only going to get bigger and better with more support.

"I would say in the next three years or so, we might actually have a Singaporean challenging for a world title here - that would be big news.”