Ume set to defend title

Papua New Guinea’s two-time Olympian John Ume is prepared to defend his title as prepares to make his third appearance in the 2024 Kumul Mineral Holdings Limited Boxing National Championship.

Competing in the Light Welterweight (63.5kg) category Ume confirmed his participation to represent Central and said this year has been a roller coaster competing in multiple international bouts before his second Olympic appearance in the 2024 Paris Olympics in France.

“This is my third national championship and I will be representing my home province Central. The first two championships I represented the National Capital District,” Ume said.

“It has been an unreal experience competing in multiple international bouts to making a last minute appearance at the Olympics.”

He said despite his knockout at the Olympics, he was still positive to continue his journey into the professional boxing space.

Ume’s pro-boxing debut in Port Moresby earned him the fastest recorded time and win during the 2024 Oceania Fight Promotions event in September.

“Physically I wasn’t prepared to compete at the Olympics, but after that knockout I had to come back and train extra harder before making my professional boxing debut this year,” Ume said.

He is still eligible to compete in amateur boxing after PNG Boxing Union mandated their constitution to allow athletes to compete in both.

“For this championship, I am looking to defend my title but I am well aware that I will be expecting tough competitions from my fellow elite boxers mostly from the NCD Team,” he added.

Meanwhile, Ume recently established his boxing academy to train and develop young kids between the ages of 6-15 years old.

“Apart from competing in Amateur and Pro-Boxing, it has been a great hand on experience working with young talents who are interested in boxing classes,” he said.

“I started my boxing academy to train kids’ self-defense but also to develop talent who can one day reach new heights and represent PNG in big events.”