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The first appearance of Papua New Guinea at the AIBA Oceania Olympic Qualification Tournament in Apia, Samoa saw all three of its boxers win their semifinal bouts as the finalists for the tournament were confirmed on Thursday.

With three boxers participating, Francis Oaike (51kg), Jack Willie (48kg) and Eugene Keto (54kg) all advanced through to Friday's finals.

Willie, the 2006 and 2007 Oceania and South Pacific champion, and Keto, the 2007 South Pacific bronze medallist, both had scares in their bouts against Samoa A opponents. Willie had to stage a brilliant fight back to beat Lalomauga Sinapapa Sanele 19:10 after trailing 7:4 at the halfway poinbt while Keto had to take similar action at 8:9 down before clinching the final round 7:0 against Vailima Fialelei Enoka.

Oaike, the 2007 South Pacific champion, was all class meanwhile, charging to a 23-3 lead against Samoa A's Satupaiitea Tusiga Taala before the contest was stopped on the outscored rule (20 points difference).

A total of 22 boxers from seven teams have reached the finals with Australia (57kg, 60kg, 91kg) and Samoa (81kg) guaranteed an Olympic qualifier in three and one division respectively having two of their nation's boxers scheduled to meet each other in the final.

Friday's finals start at 15:30 (local time).