Korake scores big KO

By PETER PUSAL
JOHN Korake claimed the newly-formed Indo-Pacific Boxing Association’s (IPBA) cruiserweight (90.7kg) title with a dramatic one-punch knockout of Ezatullah Kakar in the ninth round of their championship bout at the Sir John Guise Indoor Complex, Waigani, Port Moresby on Saturday.
The back-and-forth action in the main event of the PNG Professional Boxing Gymnasium (PNGPBG) and Universal Promotions show saw the Bougainvillean nicked-named the “Stopper” live up to his moniker when he connected with a picture-perfect straight right hand on the Pakistan native’s chin, dropping him at the 2:29 minute mark of their scheduled 10-rounder.
Referee Brad Vocale, pictured, waved off the bout as a motionless Ezatullah, lying flat on his back, failed to react to the count as a relieved Korake celebrated a gutsy win.
“He’s (Ezatullah) a very tough fight. I thought he was going to knock me out so I tried my best,” an exhausted but exalted Korake said afterward.
Ezatullah, who out-weighed Korake by six kilograms, was physically the bigger man in the ring and used his size and strength to over-power his more skilled opponent but the 34 year-old fighting out of Sebore village off the Magi Highway, Central, kept his nerve and landed more flush shots to wear the former Pakistan kickboxing champion down over the course of the grueling encounter.
“I knew that he would give me pressure and push me so I put that one good right on him,” Korake said of Ezatullah’s penchant for winging punches, some landing behind the head, and muscling shots during clinches.
Referee Vocale, despite cautioning Ezatullah several times during the fight for hitting behind the head, attributed the illegal blows more to the awkward exchanges than anything intentional.
“I said to him (Ezatullah), ‘I’ve warned you two times, if I have to warn you again I’ll have to take a point off you,’” Vocale said of the asylum seeker, who was representing Manus.
“It’s an illegal blow, it is a foul and it’s dangerous for the opponent but to be fair to Kakar a couple of times when he threw the right hand John (Korake) stepped forward to duck into it and it just hit him on the back of the head so he (Korake) said to me ‘What about the blow?’, but he stepped into that one and I said it’s not legal but it’s an accident.”
Korake relied on his better skill set to land the more accurate punches (mostly straight rights, crosses and uppercuts) and time the Pakistani despite eating several shots — particularly the counter left hook — in their exchanges.
PNGPBG patron Ben Micah said before the show that the country needed heroes and boxing could give them that and the former Kavieng MP’s words rang true as Korake, and Kakar, put on a memorable performance.
In the earlier bouts, former PNG amateur representative Henry Umings, making his pro debut, stopped training partner/mentor and fellow southpaw Tony Waisa, 39, with a body shot in the third round of their scheduled eight-rounder for the IPBA 53.5kg title in the night’s first bout.
In second bout, a lightweight (61.23kg) clash between John Oscar and John Kalau saw the technically better boxer in Oscar recover from a flash knockdown early in the second round to pummel the back-tracking Kalau before a left hook-right cross combination put him down at the 2:56 minute mark of the round.
The third bout at middleweight had the imposing Morobe man Douglas Walo annex the IPBA 72.57kg title with a first round knockout of an out-gunned Roger Wani of East Sepik. Walo landed a short right to the jaw amidst a flurry late in the opening frame that convinced a stunned Wanji to take the full count in their 8x3min contest.
The fourth bout was an exhibition that had fighting Anglican priest Fr. Dave Smith, 56, winning a points decision over 43-year-old Wanigela man Luke Baro in their 4x2min bout. Smith proved to be the better conditioned fighter and the wilier competitor taking three of four rounds for a unanimous points win over the gassed Baro.
Among the show’s notable attendees were former PNG welterweight champion Martin Beni, taekwondo personality Jamuga Stone and Micah.
The show’s major sponsor was the Sports Inn with the Motor Vehicle Insurance Ltd, Trophy Haus, Curtain Brothers, Shady Rest Hotel and RH Group supporting as well.
The next PNGPBG show is slated for February.