Ume Set to Defend His Title

Papua New Guinea’s two-time boxing Olympian John Ume is prepared to defend his title as he prepares to make his third appearance in the 2024 Kumul Mineral Holdings Limited Boxing National Championship.

Competing in the Light Welterweight (63.5kg) category, Ume confirmed his participation to represent Central and said this year has been a roller-coaster competing in multiple international bouts before his second Olympic appearance in the 2024 Paris Olympics in France.

“This is my third national championship and I will be representing my home province of Central. In the first two championships, I represented the National Capital District (NCD),” Ume said.

“It has been a surreal experience competing in multiple international bouts to make a last-minute appearance at the Olympics.”

He said despite being knocked out at the Olympics, he was still positive to continue his journey into the professional boxing space. 

Ume’s pro-boxing debut in Port Moresby earned him the fastest recorded time and win during the 2024 Oceania Fight Promotions event in September this year.

“Physically, I wasn’t prepared to compete at the Olympics but after that knockout, I had to come back and train extra harder before making my professional boxing debut this year,” he said. 

He is still eligible to compete in amateur boxing after the PNG Boxing Union (PNGBU) amended its constitution to allow athletes to compete in both amateur and professional boxing. 

“For this championship, I am looking to defend my title but I am well aware that I will be expecting tough competitions from my fellow elite boxers mostly from the NCD Team,” Ume said. 

Meanwhile, Ume recently established his boxing academy to train and develop young kids between the ages of 6 to 15 years old.

“Apart from competing in amateur and pro-boxing, it has been a great hands-on experience working with young talents who are interested in boxing classes,” he said.

“I started my boxing academy to train kids self-defense, but also to develop talent who can one day reach new heights and represent PNG in big events.”