Boxing union waits on committee’s word

THE PNG Amateur Boxing Union has finalised its train-on squad for the Pacific Games and will release the names this week, an official says.
PNGABU trainer Mark Keto told The National yesterday that they had already picked a 24-member squad consisting of two teams (1 and 2) with a fighter picked for each of the weight divisions (men – 10/ women – 3) available at the Pacific Games.
“We’ve finalised our train-on squad already but it has to be screened by the PNG Olympic Committee through their Justification Committee and after it is endorsed we will hopefully announce it by tomorrow (Wednesday) or Thursday,” Keto said.
Keto said the boxers had to meet the criteria of justification committee which included fitness, performance and other related grounds, in order to be approved to represent the country in Apia, Samoa.
“We initially had 20 male fighters but one has dropped out and there are five female fighters. The train-on squad is split into team one and two. Team one fighters are our first choice boxers and team two are the shadows.”
PNG will field a fighter in each of the 10 men’s and three women’s divisions. Divisions: Men – Light flyweight (49kg), Flyweight (52kg), Bantamweight (56kg), Lightweight (60kg), Light welterweight (64kg), Welterweight (69kg), Middleweight (75kg), Light heavyweight (81kg), Heavyweight (91kg), Super heavyweight (91kg plus); Women – Flyweight (51kg), Lightweight (60kg), Middleweight (75kg).