A boxing club in Port Moresby is changing lives and creating champions.
The Sankamap Boxing Club has taken youths off the streets, to harness their natural talent and turn it into a winning combination.
The club was founded by Alex Rihatta, who, being the first Pacific Islander to be a Certified International Referee and judge by the World Professional Boxing Federation, is no stranger to the boxing scene.
It’s the boxer’s mission to change the public perception of youths, by helping the youths rise above the status quo.
Rihatta has turned his home into a temporary training facility for aspiring boxers. Eight months into training and the number of youths who have shown an interest in his club have increased from an initial 12, to 30.
Mr. Rihatta says, the Sankamap Boxing club is not only for Bougainvilleans, but open to all youths.
He says, it is a sport that has huge medal potential, but has been ignored. The club is setting its sights on upcoming tournaments and ultimately the Pacific Games in 2015.
Despite the state of the facilities, this is where champions are made, and he hopes they can bring boxing back to similar heights as in its glory days.
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