Boxing wants funds
The National, Friday 3rd May 2013
By HENRY MORABANG
PREPARATIONS for the national boxing championship in Kokopo, East New Britain, are on target.
Papua New Guinea Amateur Boxing Union president John Avira yesterday said preparations, under chairman James Wong, were progressing well.
Wong is in-charge of the local organising committee.
Avira updated PNGABU executives in a meeting over the weekend.
He told fellow executives they had made a submission to the PNG Sports Foundation for the G4G programme for funding for the championship.
He said a PNGABU representative would travel to Kokopo to help with the organisation of the tournament, while the local committee would arrange accommodation for provincial teams for the duration of the championships.
Avira urged all the provincial teams to contact tournament director Dick Larry or Wong in Kokopo.
He said host team, East New Britain was preparing well under former national flyweight champion and now head coach, Raphael Lare.
Kairuku will see changes in its line-up with Lui Magaiwa moving up to challenge in the 52kg category, which is now held by champion, Junior Kauka Raka.
Jnr Kauka stopped Lui in the second round of the NCD Governor’s Cup challenge at Murray Barracks during the Easter weekend.
All the way from PS Country, the 22-year old Vianniem Sari, pictured, of Kararau village, in Angoram, will punch his way in the same division as Lui and Junior Kauka.
Sari beat all boxers who came before him during the mini tournament held in Wewak to book a seat to Kokopo.
He said he was looking forward to the Kokopo tournament and would try to do his best.