Talent emerges

 NEXT week’s national boxing championships will see the cream of Papua New Guinea’s amateur talent take the ring in Kavieng, New Ireland, as they fight to earn the right to be called champions.

The majority of the country’s Pacific Games gold medal-winning boxers will be on show but they will not all have their own way.

Nineteen-year-old John Ume announced he could be a star of the future and do what fighters like Youth Commonwealth Games and Pacific Games gold medallist Thadius Katoa and teammates Henry Umings and Jonathan Keama did during the July showcase.

The Kairuku man threw the gauntlet down to the country’s elite pugilists over the weekend when he took on Pacific Games gold medallist Tom Boga and “handled” the rugged 28-year-old at the National Capital District trials at the Ben Moide Club in Murray Barracks.

“I just fought Boga by concentrating on the body and moving a lot,” Ume said when describing his bout with the elite fighter.

“I kept close to him because I didn’t want to give him any room to unwind those big shots. 

“He’s got a lot of experience but I’m glad I beat him.”

Ume’s coach Kevin Baki said Ume showed maturity beyond his years in facing Boga, who is known for his heavy hands, and out-foxing the national representative with a mixture of skill, toughness and poise.

The championships will run from Nov 26-29.

Baki said: “Boga isn’t someone you can just box.

“He’s very tough and punches hard so for a young man like Ume to beat him like that is impressive.

“I think Ume will do well in Kavieng.” 

Ume is a member of Baki’s SOCAY boxing club which operates out of Hohola. He took up boxing at 15 and is yet to represent his city or province at a major tournament but now selectors face a dilemma whether to keep the young man at his preferred 64kg or move him to another weight to accommodate Boga. The other SOCAY fighters are Roy Gavera, Marley Soma and Vincent Vauro.