Kickboxing

The Flame Fight Gym Promotion has been hosting a kickboxing tournament in Goroka over the past few years and is anticipating one on 18 April 2024.

While the kickboxing club aims to promote fight sports in the province, the president of Flame Fight Promotion, Kaupa ‘the Flame’ Omena, said the club also provides self-defence training and general fitness.

PNG female kickboxer, Manella Kambar won her 70kg division bout during the International Kickboxing championships over the weekend against an opponent from Argentina at North Miami State town hall.

Kambar is one of three PNG female kickboxers making a name at the international scene. First was Kepi Kena from Morobe, who had won a bronze medal at the WKA World Championships in Rome, Italy in 2002 and Jessy Gonopa Kaima who won the WKF international title belt in 2018 in Port Moresby.

The kickboxers are travelling to Miami, Florida, United States of America to participate in an international championship challenge, and need enough extra funds to make the trip.   

At the PNG Kickboxing Federation corporate dinner held on Thursday, 3^rd of August 2023, at the Dynasty Restaurant in Port Moresby, the retired PNG kickboxer, Nandex, ‘The Head Hunter’, auctioned the International Light Heavy Weight Tile Belt.

These Kick Boxers have been in training and are prepared to take the ring. 

The fighters were selected to Team Highlands following a successful Flame Fight Gym Promotion trials last month. They joined others who made the team through regional trials.

The tournament is confirmed to run from the 24^th tp the 26^th of June, 202. Nine teams have confirmed their participation.

According to Association Director and Head trainer Bob Jenson, kickboxing was born in East New Britain in 2009. The province was well represented at the PNG Games until the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted its programs.

Jenson said the association plans to stage an NGI tournament in the province which will involve Bougainville, New Ireland, West New Britain and East New Britain.

And so he is planning to host a local tournament during the festive season to keep youths and semi-professional kick boxers fit and occupied.

Samson said he is now out looking for support from sponsors to assist in hosting the 2021 Festive Kick Boxing Tournament.

He said by hosting this event during the Christmas period, it will help him and other fighters to test their fitness and physical abilities as they wait and prepare for their respective boxing and kick boxing tournaments in the future.

He said in the past the Federation had to host national events to help generate funds to help support its programs.

Nandex said financial constraints has been one a major challenge, that it has not properly delivered its development programs and national events in the country.

According to Nandex, there are currently 21 provinces actively involved in the code, with around eight thousand members nationwide.

In Simbu alone, there are about two thousand fighters or members from participating schools.

Samson said despite this, he has managed to stay on track, and is back in training.

The professional Kick-boxer is preparing and assisting to host a local event on September 16^th. Samson said is assisting in training upcoming fighters. He is also using the time to work on skills he feels are important, to prepare for any upcoming international fights.

His weight category varying between 60kg and 86kg.

Samson who was invited in March this year could not make it due to financial constraints and COVID-19 restrictions on international travel.

After missing two international bouts, ‘Desert Storm’ is currently training to attend later matches towards September and November.

The partnership will pave way for a new pilot project under the theme “Building a safe and secure Hela Province,” whereby Kick boxing will be introduced into all the primary and secondary schools in Hela Province as part of the education curriculum.

Under this partnership, school children will learn the core values of discipline that can help change their mindsets and attitude towards all aspects of life.