State boxing commission seeks reduced suspension for Kupihea

The Hawaii State Boxing Commission is recommending the Finland Professional Boxing Federation reduce its two-year suspension given to a Hawaii fighter to six months.

Kuulei Kupihea was the first woman from Hawaii to fight for a world boxing professional title when she lost to defending World Boxing Council, World Boxing Association and World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Cecilia Braekhus on a 10th-round technical knockout in Helsinki in December.

Two months later, the Hawaii commission said it was notified by the Finland federation she had tested positive for furosemide, a banned diuretic.

"She was devastated," her manager, Enrique Rodrigues, told the commission Tuesday.

Rodrigues said they were unaware the "water pill" was on a list of banned substances and had not sought an illegal edge.

He said they plan to appeal the severity of the suspension.

If the two-year ban stands, the Hawaii commission is not required to accept Finland’s suspension and could still choose to allow Kupihea to fight here before it expires.

Kupihea, 29, is 7-2 with two knockouts.