Women boxers scintillating bouts impress

Local women’s boxing seems to be making a comeback in local structures of the combat sport. At an interclub tournament held in Lobatse over the weekend there was an impressive four women’s bouts featuring relatively new faces in the sport.

Two of the bouts were walkovers while the other two bouts were TKOs. Recently, the Botswana Boxing Association decried their difficulty in retaining women boxers. The four bouts over the weekend saw women competing in 49, 60 and 75kg divisions. However, these are a far cry from BoBA’s heydays when the likes of Pearl Morake and Keneilwe Rakhudu would often represent the country at regional competitions like Zone 4.

In a brief interview, BoBA spokesperson, Kenny Maragana said the women at the interclub tournament displayed an appetising performance, adding that the association is planning   to revive and bring women back within BoBA structures.

Maragana said BoBA’s secretary general, Irene Ntelamo, who is also a member of the Amateur International Boxing Association (AIBA) is fighting to ensure that women’s boxing finally becomes fully-fledged within BoBA structures. Maragana said there is hope for young upcoming boxers to develop and become prestigious in the future.

About the interclub tournament at Peleng Community Hall in Lobatse, Maragana said it uncovered new grassroots talent that immediately made a statement. “There is surely hope for the future, we witnessed eye-catching bouts in which some of our seasoned boxers were given a run for their money by up and coming talent.”

Among the interesting bouts was a middleweight (75kg) contest featuring Keoagile Rantutu and upstart Obakeng Molebo. Molebo gave the sensational Rantutu a run for his money. “They young boxer did not give the established Rantutu any respect in the ring, although Rantutu eventually won 2-1.”

In another bout the talented Otukile Mohammed made sure there were sparks in his exciting 56kg bout against Thabiso Mpolokeng. Mohammed won 2-1. Maragana said the fitness level and maturity of the boxers speak volumes, adding that BoBA will soon be telling a different and interesting story.

Meanwhile, Maragana explained that the tournaments are meant to prepare for the Africa Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region’s five competitions to be held in Angola in December.