By PETER PUSAL
PNG’s welterweight prospect Rickson Yamo is set to take on an Australian opponent next month.
The fight to take place on the New South Wales Central Coast will be handled by Australian promoter Angelo Hyder, who is currently in the process of matching the 21-year-old Yamo with a fighter from his stable.
Hyder is a virtual giant on the Australian fight scene, with the boxing promoter and entrepreneur presently managing world title contender Guyanan Gairy St Clair who is scheduled to take on Britain’s Amir Khan in London on Feb1.
Yamo, who has been hard at training for the bout, is not leaving anything to chance and is following a daily training regime to prepare him for his Australian debut scheduled for mid next month.
Commenting yesterday from the Holiday Inn gymnasium, trainer Lynch Ipera has called on fit experienced boxers within NCD to join the team as sparring partners.
“Rickson has been training hard but he needs quality fighters to spar with to work on his shot combinations and refine his technique.”
Yamo’s manager Ower Illa, who has been instrumental in getting the young Southern Highlander primed and in top physical shape, is excited about the opportunity that Hyder is giving Yamo, and says that this is the first step Yamo will take as a professional prize-fighter,
“This fight will serve as Rickson’s entry into the pro ranks and in order for him to develop he needs to fight quality opposition. If all goes well eventually he will be a title contender.”
Also in the mix, is a possible fight with a ranked Asian opponent to be staged in PNG later in the year. This would also provide Yamo with the exposure and experience needed to develop his already impressive array of boxing skills.