Gold medallist eyes pro-boxing debut

By NATHAN WOTI
FORMER welterweight amateur boxer Tom Boga is set to make his international professional boxing debut in a bout sanctioned by the World Boxing Council and Asia Boxing Council on Dec 1.
Boga, from Central and Eastern Highlands, won gold in the light welterweight division (61-64kg) at the 2015 Pacific Games.
The 30-year-old, making a comeback after a two-year hiatus, will face a former Indonesian champion, according to Oceania Fight Promotions.
“I am training hard for the fight. I am not underestimating my opponent, but I trust myself and the training my coach (Ephraim Montoru) is giving me,” he told The National last week.
“I train three times a day to make sure I’m in the right shape and mindset for the fight.”
Boga made his debut as an amateur boxer at the Papua New Guinea Games in Port Moresby in 2007. He represented Eastern Highlands.
He then went on to win two bronze at the 2011 Pacific Games and the Oceania Games.
Boga’s consistent performances earned him the team captaincy for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
However, his best achievement to date was winning gold at the 2015 Pacific Games on home soil.
Montoru, 24, from Bouganville, said Boga was a humble person who loved working hard.
Monturo and Boga are training at the Gejah Academy for Multiple Martial Arts in Port Moresby.