Willie books Beijing ticket
AGELESS Papua New Guinea boxer Jack Willie became a three-time Oceania champion in 48kg division following his 15 points to nine victory over Kyle Freiberg of Australia in the Oceania Olympic Qualifying tournament in Apia, Samoa last weekend.
The victory also booked Willie a ticket to contest the highest accolades in his division at the ultimate sporting arena - the Olympic Games, in August.
Two other PNG boxers Francis Oiake and Eguene Keto were unfortunate not to have earned tickets to the Olympic Games, losing their bouts to their Australians counterparts. Australian in fact, won a total of nine berths in the Oceania regional contingent to the Beijing Games.
Oaike, lost to Stephen Sutherland (16-8) while Australia’s Luke Boyd repeated his 2007 success with victory over Eugene Keto (PNG) in a round three stoppage in the 54kg class.
All three Papua New Guineans won their semifinal bouts as the finalists for the tournament were confirmed last Thursday.
Willie, the 2006 and 2007 Oceania and South Pacific champion, and Keto, the 2007 South Pacific Games bronze medalist, both had scares in their bouts against Samoa opponents. Willie had to stage a brilliant fight back to beat Lalomauga Sinapapa Sanele 19-10 after trailing 7-4 at the halfway point while Keto had to take similar action at 8-9 down before clinching the final round 7-0 against Vailima Fialelei Enoka.
Oaike, the 2007 South Pacific champion, was all class meanwhile, charging to a 23-3 lead against Samoa’s Satupaiitea Tusiga Taala before the contest was stopped on the outscored rule (20 points difference).
Samoa was the only other country to pick up the other remaining slot through Satupaitea Farani Tavui who was victorious in the 81kg class over compatriot Taga Soifale.
The Apia tournament, which doubled as the 2008 Oceania Continental Championships, was the only qualifier for the Oceania region and represents the ninth (out of 10) AIBA Olympic boxing qualifying process.
In a repeat of the 75kg 2007 Oceania Continental Championship final in the 72kg class, Australia’s Jarrod Fletcher was again too good for Nathan McEwan of New Zealand winning 17-3 while Australia’s Bradley Pitt retained his 91kg Oceania title by beating compatriot Adam Forsyth - a 2004 Olympian -15-11.
According to AIBA (International Amateur Boxing Association) website, the total of Olympic qualified boxers now numbers 261. Twenty-three more will be confirmed at the final Olympic qualification tournament, which is the second AIBA Americas Olympic Qualifier in Guatemala City, Guatemala, which started last Friday. Two final vacancies will be allocated by the AIBA tripartite commission, bringing the total number of Olympic qualified boxers to 286.
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