The OCBC Oceania Confederation Boxing Championships continued with the semi-finals in Canberra, Australia today, where the athletes are also fighting for quota places to the Doha 2015 AIBA World Boxing Championships.

Bout of the day

Papua New Guinea’s Jonathan Keama won the gold medal at the Pacific Games last month,  and arrived in Canberra as the main rival of Australian star Daniel Lewis.

The 22-year-old endured a difficult first round against American Samoa’s George Tanoa Jr, but turned up the heat in the closing stages of an entertaining bout to qualify for the Middleweight (75 kg) final.

Team of the day

The Australian team won four of their five semi-finals contests on Day 2, beginning with a Bantamweight (56 kg) success for newly crowned National Champion Jayden Hansen over  Nauru’s Matthew Martin.

Joshua Keirl then eliminated Nauru’s 20-year-old Alfonse Deireragea in their Lightweight class (60 kg) battle.

Daniel Lewis kept the victories going against New Zealand’s Daniel Parkin in the semi-final of the Middleweight division, while Australia’s fourth triumph was delivered by Commonwealth Games silver medallist Joseph Goodall, who defeated French Polynesia’s Super Heavyweight (+91 kg) Pacific Games winner Ariitea Putoa.

Surprise of the day

Papua New Guinea’s Charles Keama moved up to the Flyweight class (52 kg) just before the start of the OCBC Oceania Confederation Boxing Championships, and caused a surprise by defeating Australia’s Reggie Palm Island.

The Round-Up

Vanuatu’s Boe Warawara defeated Papua New Guinea’s Commonwealth Games competitor Henry Umings in a great Bantamweight bout.

New Zealand’s Patrick Mailata began his sporting career as a rugby player, but looks assured in the boxing ring, especially after his triumph over American Samoa’s Robert Toilolo at Super Heavyweight.

Facts of the day

Vanuatu is not among the most established boxing nations of the region, but their lone boxer in the event Boe Warawara was able to qualify for the Doha 2015 AIBA World Boxing Championships.

Australia has nine finalists in the OCBC Oceania Confederation Boxing Championships, while New Zealand will have five representatives in the finals.

Quote of the day

“I tried to keep the fight long on the end of my jab, and to use my feet to control the distance. I did enjoy the bout because when you win it is always enjoyable. In the first round I thought I was a bit rusty, but the second round was probably my best today, while in the third round I stuck to the game plan,” said Australia’s Joseph Goodall.

Tomorrow’s program

The third and final competition day of the OCBC Oceania Confederation Boxing Championships will be held tomorrow.

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