By Sasha Pei-Silovo – EM TV, Port Moresby
Team American Samoa is ready to take on the rest of the Pacific, this July and is vying for gold medals.
In the sport of boxing, American Samoa’s only boxer competing in the Pacific Games, George Tanoa Jnr, is focused on giving his all in the ring.
He will fight in the cruiserweight division.
After battling alcohol and drug problems, Tanoa’s unwavering strength should see him be a strong contender amongst other Pacific boxers.
George Tanoa Jnr previously fought and defeated 14th Pacific Games gold medalist, Petelo Matagi, and Henry Tyrell, who represented Samoa at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Scotland.
Tanoa, is currently undefeated and is the number one ranked middleweight in both Samoas.
Tanoa Jr says that he will definitely do his best in July with the hope of fighting in the 2016 Summer Olympic Games.
The American Samoa National Olympic Committee will reportedly send 90 athletes to the games. American Samoa will compete in 9 sports; with the bigger group of 24 athletes, from the 90, representing women’s and men’s basketball.
President of the American Samoa Basketball Association, Milton Taufa’asau, has confirmed that American Samoa is ready for the games. He said that their two teams, comprised of 12 players each, are ready to pound the courts for gold.
Both the men’s and women’s teams came 5th in the 2011 Pacific Games in New Caledonia.
Taufa’asau says that American Samoa athletes continue to train, constantly and diligently getting themselves ready physically and mentally to compete against the best athletes in the Oceania Region.
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