PNGABU ordered to pay Bereina

THE PNG Amateur Boxing Union (PNGABU) was ordered by the Port Moresby District Court to pay the Bereina Amateur Boxing Association K9,500 in damages,  plus 8% interest and a further K100 in court fees, in a decision handed down by Magistrate Stephen Oli on Monday.
PNGABU general secretary John Avira and the union were named as first and second defendants in a suit brought by Lawrence Pukali and BABA for unfair treatment resulting in money and effort expended with no return.
They have 21 days to pay the damages or risk further proceedings.
Bereina boxing executive Pukali and vice-president Andrew Magaiva said  they were compelled to take legal action against the PNGABU after being snubbed by the union at the national selection trials in May in Port Moresby.
They claim that their association was barred from entering its fighters  into the trials which was used by the union to select its team for the Pacific Games in New Caledonia.
Instead PNGABU showed bias toward the Kairuku Boxing Amateur Association by recognising their fighters only.
Pukali and Magaiva said their association and KABA were affiliated to the PNGABU but  the actions of Avira and national tournament director/selector Dick Larry had denied their fighters the opportunity to compete in a national event.
They said the Union under Avira was not being fair to BABA, which along with KABA, was one of the most active associations in the country staging six tournaments so far this year and about to stage another one this weekend.
With the national championships set for Vanimo later this month Bereina boxing is determined to be included.