Raka gears up for eighth professional fight

PNG lightweight boxing champion Junior Kauko Raka, also known as the “PNG Prodigy,” is preparing for his eighth professional bout this July against Fijian champion Mikaele Ravalaka.

Raka departed for Cairns, Australia, yesterday, where he will be based and undergo training ahead of the fight in Fiji. While in Cairns, he will reunite with and train under the guidance of his former coach, James Pang.

Prior to his departure, Raka received financial support from Pang to assist with logistics, training, and accommodation during his stay in Cairns.

The 32-year-old, who hails from a mixed parentage of Morobe and West New Britain, began boxing in 2008 and first represented Papua New Guinea as an amateur in 2011.

After an undefeated six-year amateur career as a bantamweight champion, Raka turned professional in 2017. Since then, he has held the national lightweight title in the 60kg division for nearly eight years.

Highlights of his 17-year boxing career include winning gold at the 2011 Pacific Games in New Caledonia and representing Team PNG at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

Raka says he turned professional not only to pursue personal goals but to inspire aspiring boxers and promote the sport in PNG.

“I understand the potential we have in boxing. We’re not doing enough, so I want to do my part,” he said.

In addition to his professional career, Raka also runs the Street Kids Gym in Koki, where he trains and mentors young boys, using boxing as a tool to steer them away from street life and instill discipline.

“Using boxing, I want to help as many boys as possible. We need to get them off the streets, and the tool I use is boxing,” he added.

His upcoming bout with Ravalaka will be his eighth professional appearance. In his last fight, held at the Sir John Guise Stadium in September, Raka defeated Indonesia’s Ricky Manufoe by knockout.

He previously traveled to Vietnam in 2023, where he lost on points to China’s Xiaotao Su.

Like every proud athlete, Raka is once again determined to raise PNG’s flag on the international stage.