Pro boxing debutants impress
South African boxing promotions company Fox Sports this week hosted a card featuring two title fights. The WBA PAN African title fights were supportered by four under card bouts featuring four local boxers.
The successful event saw three local boxers walking away with impressive technical knockout victories while one Motswana boxer was knocked out. The event gave the newly formed Professional Boxing Association of Botswana (PBAB) much needed exposure. Fox sports are an international boxing promotion company with offices in South Africa and the United Kingdom. The international company enjoys broadcasting rights from their television partners. The night was filled with non-stop action as the winners in all six bouts stopped their opponents.
PBAB president Tsietsi Kebualemang said they welcomed the opportunity to host a world-class boxing card in Botswana. “It is important to be known worldwide,” said Kebualemang. The president of local pro boxing body believes with more boxing events, Botswana will raise to greater heights. BG Sport is reliably informed that the promoters will stage two more boxing events before the end of the year. The promoters are set to stage the events in October and December.
The bouts included super featherweight fights between local boxer Tshepang ‘Gearbox’ Babui who eased through his South African opponent in round 4. In two lightweight contests local boxers Steven Bagwasi and Kutwano Ogaketse defeated the South African opponents by TKOs. Bagwasi at 60.2 kg finished off South African Brendon Bocking who weighs 60.75kg in the second round. Referee David Bruno Nyathi stopped the Ogaketse`s fight after 2minute 15 seconds as South African Vusi Zwane couldn’t respond to heavy punches from the local lad. The local boxers were expected to fight 4 round bouts.
Namibian Raphael Iita defeated Mmoloki Thipe who replaced Kenyan Dennis Okoth. “I was told yesterday that I will be fighting. My opponent was preparing for a 6 round professional bout while I was preparing for a 3 round amateur bout”, said Thipe after his loss. The first title bout saw the challenger Hassan Mwakinyo from Tanzanian crush defending champion Anthony Jarmann, to go home as the new WBA African super welterweight champion. Jermann had a good record of 14 bouts, 14 wins, 1 loss 1 draw, while Mwakinyo had only 8 bouts, 7wins and 1 loss. The Tanzanian finished off the match in the 10th round. The WBA Africa super middleweight champion from DRC Patrick Mukala managed to outsmart his challenger Daniel Wanyoni from Kenya. The two title bouts were supposed to be 12 rounds apiece.
Thuso Khubamang from D-scud boxing stable said they prepared well for the bouts save for Thipe, who was called at eleventh hour to stand in for a Kenyan boxer. “I am happy for the boys and hope that Fox sports sign them and remunerate them on monthly basis,” Khubamang said.