By Skola Sengi – EM TV Sport, Port Moresby
Rickson Yamo made history in kickboxing when he took on Norwegian Jarrko Jussila for the WKF Welter Weight K-1 Title.
Jarrko bowed out seconds into round one of the title fight, making Rickson the first kickboxer to win a world title on home soil.
Launching their campaign in April, promoters had attracted a number of business houses. The title fight was an opportunity to forge business relations.
The Tru Warrior Gym owned and operated by brothers Tala and Tomasi availed their facilities to the fighters to prepare for the title fight.
PNG Kickboxing Association (PNGKA) President, Stanley Nandex also raised concerns on the lack of expertise and organisational skills involved. Nandex did not allow the fight to be sanctioned and was disappointed that they were by-passed to get approval.
WKF Australia and Oceania President, Robert Whilesmith, clarified upon his arrival into the country that any Kickboxing Federation is mandated to deal directly with promoters and can sanction a title fight.
The title fight wrangle has created an opportunity for PNGKBA to strengthen a constitution that governs all kickboxers, coaches and promoters, and outline procedures to abide by.
Kickboxing remains a martial arts code showing prospects for growth, as evident in the recent 6th PNG Games, where senior kickboxers in the likes of Morobe Suang, Mark Sai and Mark Sondo coach respective provincial teams and officiate at the fights staged.
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