Development boxers depart for Fiji challenge

By HENRY MORABANG
A PAPUA New Guinea Boxing Union development team will leave today for Fiji to take part in an international boxing challenge against Fijian boxers.
The event, organised in an attempt to revive amateur boxing in Fiji,  will be on Saturday in Suva.
PNG coach Mark Keto said the boxers had trained well and were ready for the challenge.
“It is a development team selected from the PNGABU-sanctioned tournament at Sports Inn, Port Moresby, last month,” Keto said.
He said the team had been in training for the last three weeks and could not wait to take on their opponents.
“The men have been training twice a day in the morning and afternoon, with the staff of the High Performance Training Centre (HPTC) supervising their strength and conditioning.
“Training’s been good and I cannot wait to see them in the ring,” the recently AIBA-accreditated level one coach said.
Keto, who recently returned from Gold Coast, Australia, with a group of 30 coaches from the HPTC, said the Fiji fights would be also be a good indicator for his performance as a coach.
“The result in Fiji would determine be of great benefit,” he said.
Team manager Mathew Aisa acknowledged Keto for his leadership since taking over control of the development squad from Joe Aisa.
“Everyone is excited about Saturday’s events,” Aisa said.
Boxing squad: Joe Ongogo (56kg), Cornelius Inapi (60kg), Joe Ume (64kg), Simon Mildner (69kg), Peter Miria (75kg), Tala Kami (90+kg).