A match to drool over
The Botswana Boxing Association’s (BoBA) annual series of interclub tournaments began this past Saturday with the most entertaining and technically superior match of the day pitting together Ofentse Kompone of SSKB Club and Motlatsi Mokobeng of EMG.
The tournament held at Ledumang Senior Secondary School saw the two boxers displaying skill and determination before a raucous crowd at the school hall. However, Mokobeng of the Eastern Military Garrison (EMG) outfit pulled a huge upset over a more fancied Kompone of the Sir Seretse Khama Barracks (SSKB) side.
“This was a very difficult match up. It was so close and I am surprised after the decision,” said Mokobeng after he was declared the winner.
“This is not even my division, I normally compete at 60kg (lightweight), for this match up I came in at 67kg to face a welterweight at 69kg.”
The 29 year old conceded that 69kg was a tough division, adding that he was going back to his natural division after the tournament. The Selebi Phikwe-based pugilist added that he was out of contention for the whole of last year after succumbing to an injury.
He in fact revealed that his fiercest rival was 60kg boxing wonder kid Kagiso Bagwasi who is currently in the national team. The Serowe native said his future boxing aspirations were to compete at the Olympic Games.
Meanwhile, Kompone, who came into the match as a favourite, partly blamed the effects of a long layoff from the sport for his loss.“I think I should take my time. I believe I will recover to full fitness in three or four months. I came back to boxing last year November,” said the welterweight contender.
Nevertheless, Kompone said the fight was close as they were neck and neck in the first and second rounds before Mokobeng edged him in the third. Another interesting match was between 1-2-5 Club debutant, Hamal Jajbhai and Karabo Mogorosi of Mafika Boxing Club.
The match drew a lot of cheers and screams from the crowd as the two novice boxers got fiercely combative and occasionally tripped over each other during the bout. Mogorosi was eventually crowned the winner after three rounds.
The well-attended tournament hosted by the Diamond Trading Company (DTCB) Boxing Club featured a total of 22 bouts with nine clubs attending. On the other hand, the tournament did not feature national team boxers who are currently on a break.