Kauko appeals for fight clearance

PAPUA New Guinea lightweight champion Raka Kauko Jnr has appealed to the Government to be fair and allow professional boxing to host events.
Kauko told The National yesterday that his long awaited World Boxing Council Asian title fight with Philippines champion Roldan Aldea in Port Moresby was set for December but said the Pandemic Controller David Manning had yet to approve the show.
“This is unfair. Other sports that are drawing big crowds are given clearance by the authorities but not professional boxing,” he said.
“My appeal to the Pandemic Controller and the authorities concerned is to please allow professional boxing to host its fights.
“Our fight promoter, Oceania Fight Promotions has arranged everything according to whatever requirements, Covid-19 protocols the government has set and I don’t think there is any issue there.
“I’ve trained the whole year just for this one fight and the least I ask from the Government is to be genuine and allow this international fight to go ahead.”
OFP director Maryanne Millie told The National last month that they were still working on getting clearance from the PNG Sports Foundation and the Pandemic Controller.
According to Millie, the 27-year-old was supposed to fight in an exhibition bout with Thomas Kagili in September but that did not eventuate due to non-clearance from the Government.
Meanwhile, Kauko, who hails from West New Britain and Morobe, has appealed to his local politicians to support him in his preparations for the international bout.
“Preparations alone costs money,” he said.
“I have other sponsors, I sometimes spend my own money for preparations alone.
“With the fight being deferred a number of times since the start of the year, it has been a burden financially.
“I’ve exhausted all support I can get.
“But this is a final appeal to my local politicians of Sialum in Morobe and Talasea in West New Britain.
“I need your support to prepare for the big fight.
“After all, I want to make name for PNG in world boxing.”