One of Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) most impressive amateur boxers, Thadius Katua, will make his professional debut tomorrow against Mikaele Ravalaca in a super featherweight professional bout during the Tuwai Boxing Promotions ‘The Battle of the Pacific’ at the Prince Charles Park in Nadi.
Katua, who turns 27 on fight day, is very experienced in international amateur boxing, representing PNG at the Rio 2016 Olympics and the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.
“I will give my best and I thank him (Ravalaca) for accepting my fight with him,” said Katua.
“I will give a good fight to him,” said the former Pacific Games gold medalist. Katua’s coach Ephraim Montoru said they had come to Fiji for a win.
“Whether be it in knockout or on points, we aim for a win.
“Thadius is very experienced in the international level of boxing, and he has the experience to overcome any sort of pressure,” added Montoru.
Director operations Tuwai Boxing Promotions, Alan Kumar said they were lucky to get Katua, a PNG boxer with a very impressive amateur career.
“This match-up against another promising young Fijian Mikaele Ravalaca, making the transition from amateur boxing recently, will be quite interesting.
“This is the count down to the ‘Battle of the Pacific’ as New Zealand’s Dylan Archer and Vanuatu’s Masing Warawara will also arrive in the country tonight (yesterday),” said Kumar.
He said all boxers were ready to rumble and would be able to meet fans at the weigh-in Nadi today. Bouts begin at 5pm tomorrow.
