Raka among fighters to take on Indonesians

By ROBINSON LEKA
The stage is set for June 30 when Papua New Guinea Professional Boxing will host two international bouts with fighters from Indonesia and PNG vying for the Oceania Pro-Boxing Championship title in Port Moresby.
PNG Professional Boxing yesterday announced that the event would host two international bouts for the bantamweight and lightweight titles, along with three undercard bouts.
The event which was initially scheduled for last December was postponed due to funding and Indonesian fighters not being able to meet travel requirements.
This year, PNG Professional Boxing have selected Junior Kauka Raka for the lightweight and Jimmy Pius for the bantamweight title fights.
Raka said he was excited about the fight.
Raka represented PNG as amateur boxer and won gold at the Pacific games in New Caledonia, and silver at the Arafura Games.
“I’ve seen some of the match highlights of my opponent and I’m sure that it is going to be a strong fight,” Raka said.
PNG Professional Boxing president Elvin Wafewa said the international bouts were a good way for PNG fighters to measure themselves when competing at the professional level.
Wafewa said PNG Professional Boxing had received invitations for international bout.
“But we can’t market our fighters unless we prove ourselves in our own country. If we are marketing two fighters.”
The event will feature three-time world champion and four-time Australian boxing champion Anthony Mundine and his father Tony.