Manny Pacquiao vs. Jeff Horn, "Battle of Brisbane" boxing match for the WBO welterweight championship in Brisbane in July 2017. Photo: Photosport
Boxing superstar set for PNG bout
Papua New Guinea media is reporting that eight-time world champion Manny Pacquiao will face Australia's former middleweight champion Anthony 'The Man' Mundine in an exhibition bout in Port Moresby in June.
The National quotes PNG Professional Boxing Control Board chairman Bernard Fong saying the bout would not only be a major event in the country but receive global coverage and attention given Pacquiao's stature in the sport and his popularity.
Fong said all expenses will be paid by the promoter.
It is likely the bout will be staged at the Sir John Guise Stadium.
'Hero' Kaltak extends A-League contract
Vanuatu captain Brian Kaltak has extended his contract with A-League side Central Coast Mariners until 2025.
Kaltak's decade-long journey to the A-League began with the Vanuatu Football Federation's academy.
He then moved to New Zealand where he played for Auckland City FC.
The 29-year-old made his A-League debut this season.
Mariners coach Nick Montgomery says it was an easy decision to make as Kaltak already has hero status at the New South Wales club.
Vanuatu player scores in seconds
Vanuatu's Augustine Chilia scored in just 36 seconds against the Cook Islands as his side recorded its first win in the Oceania Under-17 football championship in Fiji.
That early goal didn't set Vanuatu on course for a big win, however, and the Cooks equalised through Jeremiah Williams on the stroke of half-time.
Vanuatu scored a second from Jimmy Moso shortly after the restart and the scored remained 2-1 to Vanuatu, who now progress to the quarter-finals.
Both teams had lost to Tahiti in their opening games.
In the day's other pool match, a dominant second half saw New Caledonia beat American Samoa 7-0.
The final group match takes place on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Oceania Champions League winners Auckland City FC have been drawn to play African giants Al Ahly of Egypt in the opening match of the FIFA Club World Cup 2022, on February 1 in Morocco.
Bowlers delighted as Oceania Challenge set up
World Bowls has announced the launch of the inaugural Oceania Challenge following the sport's exclusion from this year's Pacific Games.
The Oceania Challenge is set to host teams from Tonga, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Norfolk Island, Niue, Fiji, Cook Island, Tokelau and powerhouse nations Australia and New Zealand.
It is set to be held at Blockhouse Bay Bowling Club in Auckland, early this year.
Inside the Games reports the World Bowls Oceania regional director saying it is really important that Oceania member authorities have as many international competition opportunities as possible, to enhance their prospects and ability to compete at World Bowls events and the Commonwealth Games.
He said they want the Challenge to become an established event on the calendar.
Bowls has featured in the last two editions of the Pacific Games, at Port Moresby 2015 and Samoa 2019, but is not part of Solomon Islands 2023.
