by PAPUA New Guinea’s featherweight champion Lui Magaiva is aiming to bounce back from his loss earlier this year when he takes on Australian boxer Kaleb Kozak in Melbourne on Saturday.
Local promoter Oceania Fight Promotions (OFP) told The National yesterday that they had arranged another international bout for Magaiva to give him an opportunity to prove himself.
The 33-year-old lost to Australian featherweight champion Rocky Ogden via a knockout in an international professional bout hosted at The Greek Club in Brisbane in March.
OFP Managing Director Maryanne Millie said yesterday that Magaiva deserved another chance to prove himself as they felt the referee stopped the bout early in his loss in Brisbane two months ago.
Millie previously said her fighter would have completed the six rounds by three-minute bout but the referee did not accord Magaiva the normal standing eight-count after he was knocked down towards the end of round three.
However, Millie said Magaiva and his coaching team had put that disappointment behind them and were looking forward to another challenge this Saturday.
Lui has been training in the last two months under his coach and trainer Luke Baro.
We know he is ready that’s why we wanted him to have another shot in the international arena. He wasn’t lucky in Brisbane but this time we are confident he will step up.Maryanne Millie, OFP Managing Director
This is a good opportunity for him so he needs to give his best and make it count. We will be traveling tomorrow (this morning) via Brisbane so we will have two days to prepare in Melbourne before the fight.
