Former amateur champ returns to ring to train son

 FORMER Papua New Guinea 60-kilogramme amateur boxing champion Henry Kunsi is a proud man after his son Lennox took up after him to keep the family name in the boxing ring alive.

After hanging up his gloves in 2003, Kunsi said apart from his work as a fitter mechanic with Tolokuma Mine, he wanted to use his experience and train his son to become a good fighter.

The1991 South Pacific Games 60kg gold medallist and two-time Oceania champion jokingly said if his son wants to emulate him, he must beat him (Henry) first.

Born in 1969 at Simbo Village in South Bougainville, Henry took up the sport by storm and went on to be the champion until retiring in 2003.

His story goes back to 1989 while a student at Arawa Technical College, where he used to go and see boxers sparring at the technical club.

“Out of curiosity, I used to go and just stand on the side to see the boxers train.

“Because of that interest, the coach asked me to join and train. And the rest is history — that was the start of my boxing career,” said Henry.

In 1988, Kunsi had his first fight against Damien Kora which the latter won.

In 1989, he moved to Port Moresby to do his apprenticeship with the Department of Works and while in Port Moresby, met up with Rapheal Touai and they trained at the Gerehu Boxing Club.

In 1990, Kunsi travelled to Lae with the Papua New Guinea training squad for the 1991 South Pacific Games to fight against Queensland boxers.

It was in Lae that Henry caught the eye of national selectors.

“I was not in the squad but because of my performance in which I technically knocked out two Queensland fighters, they selected me,” Kunsi said.

 During the 1991 Pacific Games Kunsi went on to win his first Pacific Games gold medal.

In 1991, the father of four was crowned the Oceania boxing champion in the 60kg division.