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Sports |
Back with a bang
Stanley Nandex return with KO
win over Aussie
By WENDY KATUSELE
CHAMPION kick boxer Stanley Nandex
has returned to the ring with a bang defeating Australian Michael
Orec in a one-day international promotional fight last Saturday
night in Port Moresby.
The two-time world champion, who announced an early retirement
last year, had also been out of action through injury but the
World Kickboxing Association has yet to officially recognise his
retirement.
His return at the weekend means another shot at the world title
and a further final fight in December to officially announce this
retirement from the sport which he has placed PNG on the world
map.
Saturday's fight, a lead up to the world title in Turkey, showed
Nandex competitiveness that had made him number one knocking out
his opponent in the second round.
Nandex also led Team PNG to win the annual Kokoda Track Cup with a
further cash prize of K10,000.
Team PNG won five to two with New Kid Bonny Louis claiming his
first ever international fight defeating John Higginson in the
76kg division in a technical knockout in the final round.
Andy Sam also continued Team PNG's campaign with a win over fellow
Papua New Guinean and representing Australia Francis McDonald.
In the 78kg Gabby Yura had a close call over Dan Schmidt.
The only professional boxing bout saw PNG's stylish Rickson Yamo
easily disposing of Dylan Bradley in the second round through a
technical knockout.
Australian winners Jessica Prancklin in the female bout while
Commonwealth champion Shannon Forrester had too much class over
PNG's and Oceania champion Charlie Baital in a technical knockout.
The Head Hunter, who did not expect Orec to be tough with his
strong kicks, had to work his way around in the second round with
a solid head kick for a technical knockout.
The Tribal Den Hotel was packed to a capacity crowd as loyal fans
chanted. "Nandex, Nandex".
Orec admitted after the fight that Nandex was a strong kick boxer
saying he did not want to face the Head Hunter again soon.
The Australian, who also will have a shot at his world title this
year, said the fight did not go the way he expected but said he
needed to view recordings of the bout to see where he went wrong.
Orec also said that the local boys were strong fighters and that
they needed to continue to maintain that form so PNG could be a
force in the sport.
Present at the fight were sponsors representatives and government
officials including Kagua-Erave MP David Basua and Nipa-Kutubu MP
Robert Kopaol.
 
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