By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing
Former world champion Anthony “The Man” Mundine and Australian Hall of Fame promoter Peter Maniatis are the special guests for a professional boxing event in Papau New Guinea where Prime Minster James Marape is a big sports and boxing fan. Plans are in the works with promoter Marryanne Millie to present an exhibition between ring legend Manny Pacquiao and 3x WBA world champion Anthony Mundine, one of most famous athletes in Australia, being a champion rugby footballer as well as a boxer.
Maniatis, representing Mundine, has been in talks with Manny Pacquiao advisor Sean Gibbons to lock the bout in July in Papau New Guinea. “We would like to thank the Papau New Guinea government for showing support to a big event which has been compared to the landmark bout Thriller in Manila Ali vs Frazier and will bring in people from all over the world to promote Papau New Guinea tourism after covid!,” said Maniatis.
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There are 195 countries in the World. If someone asked me in which country a supposed Pacquiao-Mundine exhibition bout might land, Papau New Guinea literally would have been the last country I would have guessed. What an odd location for a fight.
Just for kicks, try a Google image search for Papau New Guinea….
Fell in love a few years ago with a site called Sporcle which has trivia for EVERYTHING (a lot of boxing there as well) and one of the quizzes is naming all of the countries, so I know about PNG and all of the other countries over there like Nauru and Palau and Kiribati. Literally one of the most remote places on the planet.
Boxrec currently has one active boxer from Papua New Guinea and he fought there as recently as last year, so maybe they have an actual fanbase and, clearly, are trying to do something for tourism.
I’m aware of the Countries you mentioned from playing Seterra Maps online. Kiribati and Nauru are close to each other, and near PNG. It’s cool that their Prime Minister is a boxing fan and is trying to bring the sport there.
That is very cool, can you imagine if that develops a little bit? Have fighters from… Australia and New Zealand the Philippines fighting there.
Sporcle also recognizes 197 countries now USF, the most recent additions being Palestine and South Sudan.
My bad on the 195 comment. Behind the times a bit I guess. I didn’t think PNG was the safest place to host an event like the, but according to the 2022 Safest Country list, PNG was #94 and the United States was #129. Go figure. Would actually be a cool trip I think.
You are forgiven for not knowing that South Sudan and Palestine were countries lol.
PNG would be a cool trip – would probably have to spend an entire day on a plane to get there, but maybe it’s worth it.
On a side note. Took a look at Sporcle. It is quite addicting. Thanks for the heads-up.
Be careful USF, hours spent at Sporcle often seem like minutes.
I feel like an idiot sometimes when they reveal the answers afterwards, and I see the ones I missed. Fun though.
Yeah, definitely! Usually when that happens, you were either nowhere near the answer and wouldn’t have gotten it in an hour even…. or you absolutely knew it and feel SICK that you missed it.
I thought Papua New Guinea was part of Indonesia? Guess not. Each Island is essentially it’s own country. There’s a huge difference between say, Bali and the island of Java, although they are part of the same nation. As far as PNG, is there even a venue on the island suitable to hold an event like this? Not that this is a big event mind you, but some of those Pacific Island nations are still pretty remote and desolate.
There’s a city called Port Moresby there that I’m guessing would be the location. Looks like a decent size city from the pics I saw. Did an image search on it and there was more to that place than I was expecting.
They have something called the Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby, like USF said. It actually seats 15k and has hosted boxing before.
Events like this can increase the interest in the sport.
And give PGN a little more visibility. That Country is off the radar for many. Port Moresby is rough though from what I’ve seen online anyway. Several YouTube videos of people documenting their trips there ..
Man pac follows mayweather’ s blue print to the 12th power. First he criticized mayweather for fighting McGregor, then pursue a fight with him.. then had a lot to say about mayweather exhibitions now look
Because they make buttloads of money for basically no sacrifice. Fighting youtubers and celebrities you dont even have to train, you just show up for less than an hour of easy work. Even on the offchance you lose who cares, your career is over so your legacy is fine.
Its stupid but I can hardly blame Floyd or Manny. The people I actually blame are the people that pay for this slop.
And Canelo will be next. If he can stay in shape.
Oscar still hasn’t been able to pull this off.
Fighting Mundine is like fighting a hospice patient. He falls over if you just blow air in his direction, he’s in terrible health.
Current, and 3x WBA Champion! Look a little deeper…
Meant to say you are ‘correct’ about Mundine.
Oh, that’s amazing. What’s next? A huge catch weight clash between Paul Williams and Magomed Abdusalamov in the Principality of Sealand? Would probably be more entertaining.
Bad Joke!!!
The work, life and physical/mental wear/tear they put into the game, let them make whatever $ they can if ppl want to pay. If it was happening in my area I’d go.
If it makes them money then so be it. Pacman in 2!
Pacquiao should go easy on Mundine who has a sign that read ” handle with care, very fragile, can go down with a breeze” . Pacquiao vs Sugar Ray Leonard or Julio Cesar Chavez could be fun too as exhibitions
I understand the value of publicity and hype, but comparing this exhibition to Ali-Frazier #3. Really…
Many misunderstand the meaning of an exhibition, having in mind that the only reason behind of this, is the lack or need of money from the boxer. No, not always is that, but something that a retired boxer needs to quench his desire to return to the limelight, the feel the warm atmosphere of an arena full of people, and the best way to have this is a boxing exhibition where the risk to get hurt is minimal. Some can not resist the temptation to return for real, to give one more try, forgetting that the reason of their retirement was that they no longer had the ability to be competitive and in most cases the result is disastrous, ask Evander Holyfield or Roy Jones Jr. So, let the legends have fun and get more money without getting hurt.
@Burrucho-the voice of reason!
Not interested.
hahahaha… good lord, why does anyone want to see this
Even in an exhibition fight, Mundine will fall from the slightest punch. Remember, this is the guy who once got knocked out by Sven Ottke.
And brutally knocked out at that…. Totally laid out unconscious.
Mundine fought under the moniker “Mr Starfish” after that fight.
Mundine beat shane mosely it should be a good entertaining fight!!
This is a great match up. Manny’s gonna manhandle him!
Hilarious. Is it taking place April 1st?