Baki-Kaore says new talent will boost women’s boxing

RAPHAELA Baki-Kaore has welcomed the rise of new talent into amateur boxing, saying it will strengthen women’s boxing.
The 2015 Pacific Games silver medallist, who fought in last week’s national trials in Port Moresby, was forced to retire in the third round of her welterweight (64kg) clash with Kairuku’s Elizabeth Oaike.
Oaike’s poised performance belied her age with the 19-year-old consistently out-landing Baki-Kaore in a decent scrap at the Lamana Hotel’s Gold Club last Thursday.
“Elizabeth is a really good boxer. I knew when I was going into fight her it wasn’t going to be easy. I didn’t doubt that,” Baki-Kaore said.
Oaike went on to lose a competitive 64kg final on points to national squad member Laizani Soma on Friday.
Baki-Kaore explained that the recent death of her step mother had seen her take time off training and work but after initially deciding to forgo the trials the 30-year-old had changed her mind and was a late inclusion representing the National Capital District Amateur Boxing Association.
“To be honest, I had a death in the family, my step mother passed away just two weeks ago and I was going through a lot,” Baki-Kaore said.
“I had to take time off work and training. I explained to NCD boxing management that what I was going through was too much for me but then I felt I had to fight at the trials.”
The former track representative, Baki-Kaore was part of the PNG athletics team at the 2007 Pacific Games in Samoa, said mental preparation was probably the biggest factor in dictating an athlete’s success.
“As a national representative, it’s all about mental preparation. I knew I had to complete the rounds and make it to the third. That was very important to me,” she said.
“Seeing all the new talent coming through is good. I know I’m not going to be here all the time.”
The PNG Amateur Boxing Union is yet to release its squad for the Pacific Games in July in Samoa but Baki-Kaore is expected to be included now that the organisers have expanded the women’s competition to six weight divisions.
Finals results: Fri, Jan 25 – Women: 48kg – Goli Bali (NCD) beat Maryanne Ave (NCD), 51kg – Flora Loga (NCD) beat Veronica Miria (Hiri), 57kg – Kila Dobu (NCD) beat Courtney Wari (NCD), 60kg – Abbeygale Temu (NCD) beat Celestine Aisa (Maba), 64kg – Liazani Soma (NCD) beat Elizabeth Oaike (Kaba); Men: 49kg – Kopi Mauta (NCD) beat Camillo Laua (Maba), 52kg – Charlie Keama (Maba) beat Liam Kevi (NCD), 56kg – Jamie Chang (NCD) beat Douglas Imbong (Morobe), 60kg – Allan Oaike (NCD beat Ian Benny (Hiri), 64kg – John Ume (NCD) beat Lennox Kunsi (NCD), 69kg – Tom Boga (NCD) beat Andrew Asaiga (Maba), 75kg – Warren Warupi (NCD) beat Simon Aihi (Hiri), 81kg – Barry Walters (Hiri) beat Napolean Susub (NCD), 91kg – Arthur Ray (Manus) beat Tala Kami (NCD), 91kg-plus – Tomasi Kami (NCD) beat Nelson Warren (Kaba).