The ‘Last Man Standing’ Kickboxing Championship will be hosted on Sunday, July 7th, 2024, at Sir John Guise Indoor Complex Stadium in Port Moresby. It will be a one-day tournament.
After a ten-year hiatus, the Last Man Standing Kickboxing Championship returns to the Nation’s Capital. The championship was last held in 2014 under the banner of Ox & Palm brand.
Teams that will be participating in the championship are Southern Highlands, Western Highlands, Hela, Eastern Highlands, Enga, Simbu, Morobe, Central and the host city, National Capital District. Some teams have arrived already, while others will be flying into Port Moresby today and tomorrow.
A total of 60 fighters comprising 12 women and 48 men will be competing in various divisions, ranging from the 65kg and 70kg categories - heavyweights, crucial weights, and support bouts - which is a Junior Division. Those fighters will be sparring in 30 bouts.
Remarkably, the Papua New Guinea Kickboxing Federation (PNGKBF) President, Stanley Nandex, has unveiled a new ‘Title Belt’ being produced and designed by the federation, representing all the provinces in the country, which is internationally recognized and certified.
This belt will only be given to two divisions: the 65kg and 70kg, respectively. Top 8 fighters will qualify for the finals and the Last Man Standing will walk away with the newly made Title Belt. No medals will be given to the fighters. Rather, the fighters will receive belts.
PNGKBF President, Stanley Nandex, expressed his appreciation to the SP Brewery, Gobe Field Engineering, NCD, PNG Sports Foundation and other business houses, including partners and stakeholders for backing the federation to stage the tournament.
“We would like to thank some of the sponsors who have come on board - SP Brewery, Gobe Field Engineering, PNG Sports Foundation, NCD and others. We are thankful and appreciative of their sponsorship and partnership to host the championship,” President Nandex said.
The ‘Head Hunter’ also credited the senior fighters and wished them the best in their respective bouts, including the junior fighters and others who will take the ring on Sunday.
“I would like to congratulate some of the senior fighters like Nelson Samson, Thomas Kakuli, Lingston, and others who have been working with their own clubs to support the federation, and this is the result of the hard work that we all put together,” Nandex stated.
“I just manage and look after the federation, but most of the hard work is done by these people behind the scenes to see the success of the sport. I want to thank and congratulate them for their hard work.
“Let me at this juncture also congratulate and wish all the fighters the best of luck, who will fight on Sunday. Whether you win or lose, it doesn’t matter. Just go out there and have fun.”
Meanwhile, in a groundbreaking ceremony on Sunday, July 7th, the PNG Kickboxing Federation will sign a deal with Japan to participate in the K-1 competition. K-1 is a professional kickboxing promotion established in 1993 and is considered to be the largest kickboxing organization in the world. Top 10 fighters from PNG, through the Last Man Standing Championship, will be selected to train under the K-1 program.
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