The Bougainville Amateur Boxing Association has received a timely gift of K200, 000 for the national titles to be held in Arawa come September.
The sponsorship has been received well by the association’s executives, with President Victor Sihung thanking SP Brewery for their support towards promoting sportsmanship in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.
Sihung told EMTV News in Buka that SP Brewery surprised them with the announcement but one, giving hope to the staging of the boxing, titles to an island, which for over many years has produced some of Papua New Guinea’s top boxers like John Aba, Henry Kunsi, Lince Ipera and now current Thaddeus Katoa.
John Nilkare who is the Corporate Relations Manager says of SP Brewery SP Brewery’s primary objective is the long-term investment in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. This will be delivered through training.
“We understand that Bougainvilleans are the only ones who can hold their hand onto their heart and say that boxing is sort of our national sport. It was naturally fitting to come back to this beautiful region and give back to the communities. In sports, we thought boxing was fitting,” he said.
The Autonomous Bougainville Government has welcomed this long-term partnership.
Vice President of the Autonomous Bougainville Government Raymond Masono also thanked SP Brewery for the sponsorship.
“Its welcoming news for boxing because it will rekindle interest in the boxing code. We do have some clubs and associations which are dormant and surely, we will revive them so that they too can benefit from this sponsorship package,” Masono said.
Nilkare said that SP Brewery will not only sponsor the boxing titles, but also provide a sense of awareness and advocacy to help address some of the social issues, affecting community life.
The Bougainville Amateur Boxing Association has also thanked SP Brewery for this initiative.
“We going to target the messaging and using sports to bring people together, educate them that it is not right to throw punches outside of the ring but in a confined boxing ring. These are kind of messaging,” he said.
Meanwhile preparations for the boxing titles are well underway.
But before that two associations will also host their fights for their selection trials.
“Two tournaments will be staged in North Bougainville which is Buka and South Bougainville in Buin. This is in preparation for the title in September at Arawa, Central Bougainville. I would like to says that we are on track and ready to accommodate our visitors,” the Bougainville Amateur Boxing Association President assured.
