SA boxing promoters invade Botswana
South African based boxing promotions company Fox Sports will host an international card next week Tuesday at the Gaborone International Convention Centre (GICC).
The event featuring two WBA pan African title fights will be the first of its kind to be hosted in Botswana. The boxing card will be the first title fight sanctioned by the newly formed Professional Boxing Association of Botswana (PBAB). In an interview this week the Association’s founding president Tsietsi Kebualemang confirmed that they are sanctioning six bouts organised by South African promoters Fox sports. The young professional body was founded in 2015, before that time local athletes were assisted by the Local Boxing Control Body.
“We have promoters who are organising this tournament, we just sanction them, we just give them our requirements which they have already submitted,” explained Kebualemang. Fox sports is an international boxing promotion company with offices in South Africa and United Kingdom. The sanctioning requirements include bout insurance covers, public liability, sanctioning fee, credentials of tournament supervisor and matchmakers, venue, medical doctors, ambulance and hospital.
Kebualemang said for a fight to be sanctioned the organisers must fulfil requirements from the PBAB. The six bouts include super featherweight fights between local boxer Tshepang Babui and Lunga Ngoma of South Africa, a lightweight bout has another local Steven Bagwasi against South African Brendon Bocking while another local boxer Kutlwano Ogaketse will fight South African Vusi Zwane in super lightweight.
All the three bouts will be four rounds. Moreover Namibian Raphael Iita takes Kenyan Dennis Okoth in a six round bout. The first title bout will be the WBA African super welterweight defending champion Anthony Jarmann against Tanzanian challenger Hassan Mwakinyo.
The second title bout on the line will be a WBA Africa super middleweight champion from DRC Patrick Mukala against Daniel Wanyoni. The two title bouts are both12 rounds. Kebualemang said they are proud to be hosting an event of such magnitude. “It is important to be known worldwide,” Kebualemang said. The local promoting companies Bond promotions, Melroy and Scud missile had staged a few bouts locally and regionally. A few local athletes Lesley Sekotswe and Kgomotso Bok are among the few boxers to have participated in local and international competitions. Local referee David Nyathi will be officiating at the event.
Thuso Khubamang from D-scud boxing stable said his boxers are ready. “We are ready and I can promise you that we are going to get positive results from all the three bouts”, warned Scud missile, as Khubamang is popularly known. Khubamang said that Fox sports agents were impressed with the three boxers.” They visited our training camp. I had earlier recommended the boxers to them and after visiting they were impressed. The promoters are set to organise two events in October and December, the three boxers will participate at the events,” explained Khubamang.