by Papua New Guinea boxers’ preparations are on target for the Olympic qualifiers after winning their respective bouts during the intra-club boxing challenge held at Griffith University, Brisbane at the weekend.
Speaking from Brisbane yesterday, coach Joe Aufa said he was satisfied with the performances of the fighters against the Queensland boxers.
All four boxers – Junior Kaoka Raka (52kg), Charlie Keamau (49kg), Henry Umings (56kg) and Tom Boga (56kg) – won their fight on points against their opponents.
Junior Kuaka defeated Jimmy Robinson of Steam boxing club, Keamau edged Brisbane champion Allan Nicholson, also from Steam boxing club, while Bougainvillean Umings fought his way through to beat another top Queensland fighter Mitchell Goober of Boxing Shop club.
Boga defeated Ken Hooper of Kapok boxing club.
This was the second hit out for the PNG boxers.
In the first challenge the previous weekend, Boga was the only one to win his fight while the others lost on points.
Aufa commended former Australian champion Garret Williams for billeting the fighters and using his gymnasium and club – the Boxing Shop club to train.
Williams has ties with PNG, having fought here in 2005 Oceania championships where he downed John Korake in 64kg division.
Aufa thanked the Williams family, the PNG Sports Federation and Olympic Committee for providing tickets and the Lamana Hotel for providing accommodation in a lead up to the challenge in Australia.
Upon hearing the news, the PNG Boxing Union tournament director Dick Larry and the chairman of referee/judge committee Joe Efi said they were confident the fighters would do their best in Canberra.
The team will leave for the tournament in Canberra on Monday.
The challenge for the 2012 Olympic Qualifiers will start the following day.
Via – The National.
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