By HENRY MORABANG
TEAM Boxing’s preparation for the Oceania Olympic Qualifying tournament in Apia, Samoa, got off to a good start at the Brisbane Invitational Boxing challenge over the weekend in Australia.
Veteran Jack Willie won his 48kg fight against New South Wales champion on unanimous decision while both Francis Oiake and Eugene Keto lost on split decision against their Australia opponent.
Oaike was upgrade to fight in the 57kg following that there was no fighter in his 51kg division and he put up a good fight against his opponent.
Team Manager Dick Larry said Oaike who is the Oceania champion in the 51kg took a biggest gamble in his life to challenge his heavier opponent.
He said Keto fought strongly in his 57kg but was robbed off by poor referee decision at the final whistle.
Larry said he was happy with three fighters and is looking forward for their six weeks camp in Thailand.
Willie said he feels he was abit rusty a long break after his gold medal win in the South Pacific Games but was happy with the win.
He said he won convincingly in the three opening rounds and just ensure he score points in the final round to maintain his lead to win the bout.
Larry said the boxers will train for two weeks and later depart for Thailand which will be their temporary home of the next six weeks in preparation for the Apia championships.
He said from Apia, PNG Boxing Union will know which boxer qualify for the Olympic Games in Beijing.
Boxing is among four sports that need to qualify for the Beijing Games which include weightlifting (Dika Toua), soccer (women) and judo. Other sports who have qualified include swimming (Ryan Pini), Mae Koime (athletics), and Francis Kompaon (T47 amputee) and Kupuni Lewa (wheelchair) for the Paralympic Games in September.