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Samoan heavyweight boxer Ato Leau Plodzicki-Faoagali bowed out of the Tokyo Olympics in the third round of a match that went to Belarusian boxer Uladzislau Smiahlikau.
Samoan heavyweight boxer Ato Leau Plodzicki-Faoagali bowed out of the Tokyo Olympics in the third round of a match that went to Belarusian boxer Uladzislau Smiahlikau.
The 22-year-old Polish-Samoan Ato put up a strong fight at Tokyo’s Kokugikan Arena. He started off strong with an aggressive beginning and landed high punches to take the first round.
In the second round, Ato took a forceful blow to his head taking him out of his game, giving Smiahlikau a slim lead.
Ato regained his composure to come out strong in the third round but the split decision went to Smiahlikau.
The decision was 4:1 to Smiahlikau.
Ato Leau Plodzicki-Faoagali is of Polish-Samoan heritage and lives in Australia. He is a member of the Focus Boxing Club in Australia and Marist Boxing in Samoa. He is coached by Ronnie Sinclair of Focus Boxing Club and by his own father, Steven Faoagali.
Ato attributes his achievements to his father and lists his hero as the Pacific Islands’ first Olympic medallist, heavyweight boxer Paea Wolfgramm of Tonga who won silver at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.
He also cites New Zealand boxer of Samoan heritage, David Tua, as a key influence in his sports career.
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