2023 National Boxing Championships preparations for armatures are underway at Sir John Guise Indoor Stadium which will commence tomorrow, Friday 21st- 23rd April as a lead up for the Pacific Games and Olympic Qualifying in Honiara, Solomon Islands later this year.
According to Tournament Director Joe Aufa, eleven boxing associations with their fighters are confirmed to participate and will be coming from the different regions around the country.
“Two associations from NGI as well as Highlands and one from MOMASE”, said Tournament Director Aufa.
The outside centers who will be competing tomorrow are from AROB, Manus, Wewak, Kainantu-Goroka Eastern Highlands and Western Highlands Provinces.
As for Southern Region, different boxing associations from Central Province like North Mekeo nicknamed Nomex and Hiri, amongst others as well as NCD will be competing in these three (3) days championships in various fighting weight categories, for both male and female.
“There will be different fighting weight categories from 48Kg up to 92Kg”, said Tournament Director Aufa.
88 boxers will be competing from the participating Associations and Provinces and out of that, only 36 boxers will be selected to represent PNG in the upcoming Pacific games and the Olympic Qualifying.
PNG Boxing Coach Mark Keto confirmed that there will be two selections made for the fighters for Pacific Games and Olympic Qualifying during the course of the event.
More so, youth fighters will be selected to fight in the Oceania Youth Championship in Samoa which will be held in May.
Meanwhile, a two days’ refresher course for referees and judges were held at Sir John Guise Main Stadium starting yesterday and concludes today for referees and judges facilitated by International Boxing Association (IBA) representative from Fiji based in Australian, Seru Whippy.
‘We are trying to improve the standard of referees by giving them the refresher”, said PNG Boxing Union President Kendino.
More so, the workshop will see selection of referees to represent PNG in Samoa for the Oceania Youth Championships starting in May 20 upon assessment of their performance.
“By assessing their level of competency and their ring craft”, said President Kendino.
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