Raka’s fighting hope in limbo

By CHARLIE DUMAVI
PAPUA New Guinea’s prodigy boxer needs funding to realise country’s pioneer boxer late Martin Beni’s dream to win a World Boxing Association Title Belt fight.
When late Beni passed on while officiating a boxing match in Port Moresby last November the current PNG superlight weight boxer Raka Kauko Junior wowed to carry on his legacy as his mentor to win a title belt for PNG.
This dream is now a step away from achieving as Raka have secured a match against a Vietnam boxer that is scheduled for next Thursday, July 28, 2022 in Vietnam. However, Raka’s manager and sponsor withdrew his support leaving him in dire need to secure funds to travel. His manager James Pang dropped the bombshell in the 11th hour.
“My manager turned down his support in terms of financing my travel to Vietnam. He said he will not assist me financially to travel. He informed me late, he said it is okay for me to travel but I have to fund my own travel. Now I have to find about K12,000 in just a week left. I really need a sponsorship to take this fight,” Raka said.
He has been preparing well in the past months to take the fight and he is seeking funding to travel despite the hiccup.
Raka took a stint to secure the belt last April 25, 2021 against Philippines Roldan Aldea in a historical boxing title fight in Port Moresby.
After losing the fight Raka told Sunday Bulletin that “this is my first international fight and unfortunately I lost this fight on home soil.”
Raka is determined to fly PNG flag against Doan Hieu of Vietnam and is calling out to business houses and individuals for assistance to fund his travel to Vietnam and back.
Raka’s appearance in Vietnam will determine a rematch to claim the belt he lost to Alde, a possibility to realise late Beni’s dream.
He said this is an opportunity to showcase what PNG has in terms of boxing in the country to out neighbouring countries and the international boxing community as a whole.
“For me to take up the bout will create pathways for boxers in PNG into the future,” Raka said.
He said he was running against the clock and needed to secure funding with just under a week to go.