By CHARLIE DUMAVI
OCEANIA Fight Promotions and Papua New Guinea Boxing Council have brought into the country the World Boxing Association – Asia Boxing Association (WBA Asia) Super featherweight belt to host a Philippines fighter later this month.
The newly established PNG boxing council is happy to host Philippines International Roldan Aldea ‘the Cobra’ who will be arriving in the country on Saturday to take on Junior Raka on April 25, 2021 in a super featherweight under 59 Kilo gram fight. The fight will be at Sir John Guise indoor stadium in Port Moresby.
As per the regulations in placed to stop the spread of Covid-19. Roldan Aldea will be picked up from the airport by an assigned driver with no physical contacts to be made even to his luggage and he will go straight into 14-days quarantine until he is Covid-19 cleared. This was announced in a media conference at Century hotel today.
Roldan Aldea is a professional Philippines boxer who has more experience in the ring, fighting around Asia region compared to his PNG opponent who only fought in the Pacific Games in New Caledonia and the Oceania title in Canberra, Australia apart from his other fights in the country.
With all the excitement to step into the ring to prove himself, current PNG light weight champion Junior Raka has been on his fists locked training for over a month now to rise up to the challenge and to bring back the glory of boxing in PNG.
“I look forward to this title fight. I cannot say much about this belt, but I can say that this WBA-Asia Super featherweight belt will stay in the country and it will not go out and this is my promise to the people who brought this belt into the country,” said Junior Raka.
Raka added that he is working closely with his team at East Boroko in Port Moresby to make sure this happens.
Former PNG international who has represented PNG in world boxing stages and the Oceania Fights promoter Martin Beni expressed his gratitude to see young Papua New Guineans taking up such challenge to represent the country.
“Looking at Junior Raka is like me stepping into the ring to fight so I wish him all the best. It is not an easy thing to tackle but I believe he will win for all of us,” said Beni.
This fight was long overdue and was supposed to be hosted last year but due to the Covid-19 global pandemic, it was put to hold until it was approved this year by the Pandemic controller David Manning with the strict observation to the protocols in placed.
Oceania Fight Promotions managing director Maryanne Millie said they are happy to officially announce the fight to go ahead.
She said the title fights consists of six undercard bouts and two international undercard bouts and it is the first of its kind in PNG.
A similar fight like this was hosted in 2019. However it was hosted under World Boxing Council Association, a different organization.
“I want to challenge all the boxers who are currently here to make sure you do your best and I want the PNG Boxer to be a champion this time so that Oceania Fight Promotions and sponsors do not waste their money in preparation for this fight.
“It is a big challenge to Raka and I want you to win this fight so we have something in the country to support Boxing to the world level,” said Millie.
Due to the Covid-19, strict measures will be taken to prevent the spread of the virus. Therefore only 800 tickets are now out on sale for K30 and 20 tables going on for K10, 000 per table.
Moreover the interim president for PNG Boxing Council Ben Micah is very happy with the organizers for bringing back such big fights and the sporting code of boxing which one time made PNG well known in the world stage.
He said the reason behind PNG Boxing Council is to properly organize boxing fights in the country and to the world stage.