Boxing trials rescheduled, Larry says

THE PNG Amateur Boxing Union has shifted its national selection trials, initially scheduled to start today, to tomorrow.
PNGABU tournament director Dick Larry said the trials would now be over two days (Thursday, Friday) to give fighters from outside Port Moresby a chance to get to the national capital.
“The national trials will now be over two days instead of three. We did this to give time to fighters like Thadues Katoa (Bougainville) from outside NCD to get here,” Larry said.
Larry, who is also the chairman of selectors, said the union was expecting most of the fighters in its elite squad as well as those identified at the last national championships as well as at the 2017 PNG Games to make the trials.
The PNGABU will use the trials as its final selection event to pick a final squad to represent the country at the Pacific Games in Apia in July.
Larry said the bouts would begin at midday at the Gold Club, Lamana Hotel, Waigani, on both days.
“This selection trials is for the fighters from our national squad as well as the best from the PNG Games and national championships,” he said.
“It’s the best against the best because we need to pick our Pacific Games squad.”
Larry said depending on the numbers the draws would see 16 bouts (men — three by three-minute rounds, women — four by two-minute rounds) per session.
“We’re aiming to having 16 bouts per session, so we need to have 32 boxers and we want to run two sessions a day.”
The trials will feature Commonwealth Games representatives Katoa and Charlie Keama.
For details on the national boxing trials PNGABU general secretary Dr Gideon Kendino can be contacted on 72955944 or Larry on 76529630.