I wasn’t paid the agreed fee, Korake says

By BENJAMIN KOITAKA
The Indo-Pacific Boxing Association (IPBA) cruiserweight champion John Korake says he will leave the PNG Professional Boxing Gymnasium stable if is not paid what was promised to him.
The 34-year-old said he would look for new promoter if the balance of what was owed to him is not paid: Korake said he agreed with the PNGPBG for a K6000 purse but had only been paid K4000 since his Dec 22 championship bout that saw him stop Pakistani Ezatullah Kakar in the ninth round.
Korake said although he had signed a contract with PNGPBG there had been no amount stipulated.
“I fought the main bout and there was no specific amount put on contract paper before we signed,” a disappointed Korake.
The Bougainvillean said he was unsure if the rest would be paid.
He said he had a verbal agreement to be paid K6000 — if he won.
“If they don’t pay me, I will find my own promoter and fight,” Korake said.
PNGPBG president Elwin Wafewa denied the claim, saying no amount had been agreed to before the fight.
“As the promoter, we made negotiable contracts and all fighters agreed,” Wafewa said.
“It was not a base contract where you actually see and know the figures how much goes to the winner and loser.
“We didn’t state anything but there was some verbal agreements to pay the winner K4000 and not K6000,” Wafewa, a former boxer himself, said.
“He (Korake) was paid the highest amount from the night.
“We offered him a good purse and wanted to raise him up as much as possible so that he can fight more fights.
“He is an unknown fighter and we will raise his payment and as he becomes more well known,” Wafewa said.
Wafewa said it was a negotiable contract if there were any issues they could negotiate.
He said the PNGPBG and boxers could discuss their contracts.
“It’s a risky business and we understand the welfare and values of each boxer,” he said.
Wafewa said boxers — winners and losers — received their payments after the fights and some outstanding amounts had been paid last week.