John Ume shows humility in victory, thanks The Sanctuary Hotel

John Ume was crowned the BX-9 interim Welterweight Champion after defeating New Zealand’s Hamzy Perwaisy on Saturday, 3 October 2026, at Eventfinda Stadium in Auckland. 

The bout was initially scheduled between Ume and Riley Allen. However, Allen was ruled out due to injury, with Perwaisy replacing him. The title fight between Ume and Allen has been rescheduled for early February or March in 2027. 

It was an intense ten-round bout, with Ume and Perwaisy trading powerful jabs. As the fight reached the seventh round, Ume knocked out the New Zealander to walk away as the BX-9 interim welterweight champion. 

The Kairuku native revealed that his coaching staff advised him to start fast in the opening round, but Ume used his instinct and fought at his own pace to knock out Perwaisy in round 7. 

“The game plan was to go in and start hard from rounds 1 to 10, but I told my coach that I can’t start hard,” Ume said. 

“However, my game plan was to aim for his tempo, which I did successfully, and defeat him in round 7.”

The Central lad said boxing has come a long way in PNG, paying tribute to the trailblazers of the code and looking to build on that legacy. 

“Boxing has been progressing well in PNG since the era of Martin Beni, John Aba, and others,” Ume said.

“Boxing has been doing well in the Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games, so I wouldn’t say PNG is up there - PNG is already up there. 

“It died out from Martin Beni and John Aba’s era, and I’m trying to rebuild it again. I know it’s going to take time, but we are still going to get there.” 

Ume urged the government to support all sporting codes equally across the country rather than focusing on a single sport.

“We have a lot of talented boxers out there. I won’t say I’m the best. There are a few top boxers out there, but they need exposure,” he said.

“I’m setting the pathway, and I hope all the boxers in PNG will follow the same pathway. One day, someone might win the world title, or I might get it first.”

The owner of The Sanctuary Hotel and Rapopo Plantation Resort, James Pang, who was a former athlete, said he was proud of Ume’s win and assured the boxer of the hotel’s continued support.  

“I’m a sportsman myself, and I’m a competitor. Most of you don’t know that I was the windsurfing champion, representing PNG in New Caledonia in the 1980s. My greatest passion in life is to win,” Mr. Pang said.  

“It’s the best feeling in the world. When you win yourself or who you sponsor wholeheartedly, not half-heartedly, it’s the best feeling in the world. That’s how I felt when John won.

“We have been the only company to sponsor John well before his fight in New Zealand, which he won impressively. We are very proud of John’s achievement. 

“John needed a sponsor, and we went on board at the right time, and now he is a winner. I know John appreciates it. For his next fight, we’ll be here supporting him.

“With me, once I support someone, I’ll continue to support that person. He has my support forever. We don’t stop.” 

Chief Pang said they are happy to support Ume and other sports, but urged the government and business houses to back the promising boxer. 

“We don’t need the government's assistance. We are good. We are happy to support John, but we hope a few more serious sponsors who believe in John and what he is doing can come on board to support him,” Pang stressed. 

The “Ring Monster” expressed his sincere gratitude to Mr. Pang, The Sanctuary Hotel, Rapopo Plantation Resort, and the staff for supporting his professional boxing journey. 

“On behalf of my family and the coaching staff, I would like to sincerely thank Chief Pang, The Sanctuary Hotel, and Rapopo Plantation Resort for their support,” Ume said. 

“Without their assistance, I don’t think I would make it this far. I’m so glad and humbled to receive their support.” 

The Central native now shifts his focus to the upcoming title fight against Riley Allen and hopes to maintain his perfect winning record in pro boxing.