Boxers to face off

PORT Moresby will host the 2024 Kokoda Challenge on Sunday with 16 international bouts between PNG and Australian boxers to commemorate Anzac Day.
Organised by the Papua New Guinea Boxing Union, the event is supported by the PNG Sports Foundation, PNG Olympic Committee and the Australian Olympic Boxing.
The main bout will see PNG’s Commonwealth Games and 2020 Olympic representative John Ume face-off with New South Welshman Henry Nable in a lightweight (63kg) bout.
The other main bout will see PNG’s Allan Oaike taking on NSW’s Harrison Knew in the featherweight (57kg) division.
Oaike and Ume are also preparing for their 2024 Olympic Qualifier which will be held in Thailand next month and the Kokoda Challenge is a quality lead up to that event for the duo.
PNGBU general secretary Martin Liri told The National yesterday that the event would commemorate the Anzac Day in respect of the Australian soldiers who fought in WWII at Kokoda.
“This is an important annual event and we will use this to prepare our boxers for the upcoming international events,” Liri said.
“The obvious event coming up is the Olympic qualifier in Thailand and there’s no better way to prepare than having trial in the Kokoda Challenge.
“In last year’s Pacific Games in Honiara, PNG boxers dominated because we had a strong trial in the Kokoda Challenge leading up to the Games.
“The boxers coming from New South Wales and Victoria in Australia are quality fighters and they are tough.
“For our boxers to face them, it’s the best way to see where we are and what we can improve on for the coming international events.
“The highlight of this challenge will be the John Ume and Henry Nable fight and also the Allan Oaike and Harrison Knew,” he said.
“Another interesting bout is in the women’s with our Sophie Willie taking on Alexis Proctor in the women’s 69kg division fight. We have 16 bouts so apart from the main fights, other young and upcoming PNG representatives will be on show and it would be a great experience for then.”
The PNG boxers have been in training at the Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby in the last couple of months under coach Mark Keto.