Bougainville stars to miss national trials

PACIFIC Games champion and Commowealth Games representative Thadeus Katoa along with fellow Bougainvillean Maxie Mangea will miss the national boxing trials, says an official.
PNG Amateur Boxing Union tournament director and chairman of selectors Dick Larry said the Bougainville associations were unable to send any fighters to the trials which starts today.
“Unfortunately, Bougainville could not come so two of our best fighters in Thadues Katoa and Maxie Mangae won’t be fighting,” Larry said.
“We have not been able to contact Thadeus because he’s in his village which is remote but a team from Bougainville won’t be coming.”
Larry said despite the pair missing the trials, they would still be considered by the PNGABU to represent the country at July’s Pacific Games in Samoa.
“We’ll still look at Thadues and Maxie’s ratings and rankings of these two and how they performed in the past for the country and at national championships to make a decision on them for the national squad.
“Let’s not forget that Thadeus is an Olympic Youth lightweight champion and a Pacific Games gold medallist while Maxie is also a very good flyweight,” Larry said.
He clarified that the men’s and women’s bouts would be fought over the same period (three by three-minute rounds) according to the latest AIBA guidelines.
PNGABU general secretary Dr Gideon Kendino said the weigh-in would start at 6am today at the Taurama Aquatic Centre while a managers and technical meeting.
The first session (16 bouts) is scheduled 10am at Lamana Hotel’s Gold Club and the second session from 3pm to 7pm.
Tomorrow’s finals session will from 1pm to 7pm.
Dr Kendino confirmed that NCD, Hiri, Mekeo, Kairuku, Abau, Morobe and Manus associations would have fighters at the trials while Kokopo, Kavieng and Wabag were unable to make the trip due to funding constraints.
Larry said Simbu would have one representative in PNG Games super heavyweight Moses Ambane who was due to arrive today.