Boxing is jabbing through Covid-19

By PARKER TAMBUA
LIKE all other sports the code of boxing had to go through a rough patch this year due to the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
Astoundingly boxing is the only code in the country that hosted an international event this year in spite of the pandemic.
Nothing much was happening at the domestic amateur level.
However, one of the highlights was the participation of lightweight boxer John Ume in the Tokyo Olympics.
Ume was the Papua New Guinea’s lone boxer in the world’s showpiece event.
Although he was eliminated in the early stages, the 25-year-old went down fighting.

He lost via unanimous decision against Australian champion and Commonwealth Games gold medalist Harry Garside.
The final scores from the each of bout’s five judges was 27-30.
Even Graside admitted that the result could have been closer had Ume gone through a decent preparation in the lead-up to the event.
Lack of time in the ring with quality boxers at an international level meant that Ume was underprepared for the event that featured world class opponents.
Ume’s lead up training was done exclusively in Port Moresby due to the travel restrictions.
The closure of Taurama Aquatic Centre meant that Ume had to train at different facilities like the Southside Fitness Centre, Murray Barracks and the Sir John Guise Indoor Complex.
Despite these changes Ume still managed to stay focused and prepare to the best he could.
Ume was proud of his efforts despite the result at the Olympics.

He said after returning from Tokyo in July that his next focus was on the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
In the professional boxing scene, local fight sports company, Oceania Fight Promotions (OFC), pulled off another successful event in the midst of Covid-19 situation.
Sports teams in PNG only got to travel out of the country for international events but OFC became the only sporting body to stage an international event on home soil.

National lightweight champion Raka Kauko Jr and Filipino Roldan Aldea faced off in the World Boxing Association (WBA)-sanctioned title fight for its Asia belt at the Sir John Guise Stadium Indoor Complex in Port Moresby on April 25.
The WBA Asia title fight was a championship bout in the super featherweight division (59kg).
In other international bouts, welterweight Andrew Asaiga faced Filipino Mark Sales on the undercard.
Despite Kauko having the courage to hang on in the fight, the Filipino proved to have a lot more speed and defensive skills which saw him win the title through a unanimous decision.
Kauko was hunting Aldea all night for a knockout shot but the Philippines champion displayed better ring generalship and grit to see off Kauko’s best efforts over 10 rounds.
Kauko threw mostly single power shots hoping to hit and hurt Aldea from the opening round, but the Pinoy’s fluid footwork kept him out of harm’s way.
Defensively, Aldea was on point while he stole rounds by popping the jab and following it up with crosses and uppercuts.
Aldea said the win was the happiest moment of his career.

A disappointed Raka said after the fight that he would come back stronger should there be a rematch which is yet to be announced.
In an undercard welterweight bout, Asaiga maintained his perfect professional record after he outclassed Filipino Mark Sales.
Asaiga won by unanimous decision over a six-rounder.
Asaiga used his height well keeping the shorter, stockier Sales at bay.
The PNG representative’s hard quick jabs and crosses using his better reach saw him score effectively each round.
Sales, known as ‘The Slam Man’, tried his best throughout the fight to get in close to launch his offence but failed to make the most of his limited opportunities.
Rounds four and five were the most intense frames which saw Sales go toe-to-toe with Asaiga.

But that played into the home fighter’s hands with speed and his sharper combinations leaving Sales eating more shots than he could counter.
Sales was knocked twice but he got up and completed the fight.
Asaiga said after the fight that he was proud to record his second win in professional boxing.
The win means that Aisianga is yet to lose a professional bout and with a 2-0 record in his fledgling career.
Last month, OFP hosted another local undercard event which was the TV WAN Action Fight Night at the Sir John Guise Indoor Complex.
The event featured seven bouts with the main event a clash between light heavyweight champion John Korake and John Decklam.
Decklam upset Korake to win a unanimous decision. Both men went toe to toe throughout the eight rounder.
The show ended with the tragic news that PNG boxing legend Martin Beni had collapsed and died of a suspected heart attack while at the venue.
Boxing patron Ben Micah who accompanied Beni to the Pacific International Hospital confirmed the passing of the former Commonwealth champion.
Meanwhile, Korake said he wanted to put his title on the line in a rematch with Decklam next month.
This year’s events show that boxing is still alive will continue to grow into 2022 despite the challenges it faces with Covid-19.