ONLY 20 boxers traded leather at the Bulawayo Amateur Boxing Association (Baba) tournament held at Manor Hotel on Saturday.
SPORTS REPORTER
Pugilists from Gwanda who had been expected to take part in the competition did not turn up for the tournament, which Baba says are part of a series of competitions lined up in preparation for this year’s Zimbabwe National Youth Games to be held in Masvingo in August.
Baba vice-chairman Ezwell Ndlovu said the tournaments are also being organised to prepare boxers for the African Union Sports Region V Under-20 Youth Games to be hosted by Bulawayo in December.
Andile Ncube of Tshaka Youth Centre, coached by renowned Bulawayo boxing trainer Philip “Striker” Ndlovu, got the better of Denzel Mpofu of Lobengula on points in the lightweight category in one of the 11 bouts.
Lobengula’s Milton Moyo was to make amends for his club in the same category beating Everson Musumbichi of Nkulumane also on points.
Martin Dlodlo of Percy Ibboston beat clubmate Steven Ndlovu on a knockout (KO) in the third round in a light-flyweight contest while another KO was in the women’s section where Catherine Betera of Percy Ibboston got the better of club member Nyasha Gomwe in the light welterweight division in the third round.
Ndanasei Mukondiwa of Zimbabwe National Army knocked out Mthabisi Ndlovu of HQ1 Brigade in the second round of the catchweight division.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
In the flyweight category, Emmanuel Katsara of Nketa was victorious over Lobengula’s Hubert Chitera on points.
In the fight of the day in the boys’ section, Cecil Toto of Lobengula beat Sydney Baloyi of the Zimbabwe National Army on points in the light welterweight with the best women’s bout being won by Tenjiwe Foloma of Percy Ibboston who beat compatriot Queneth Dube on points in the bantamweight.
In other fights, Shepherd Machiya of Nketa fell to Wiseman Tshuma of Lobengula on points while Casper Mnkandla of HQ1 Brigade beat Lovemore Hayisvosvi of Nkulumane with Godknows Sithole also of HQ1 Brigade walking over Blessing Ndiraya of Nkulumane.
The three bouts were all in bantam weight division.
Ndlovu was happy with the tournament.
“It was a successful tournament and we would like to thank Manor Hotel for hosting the competition. Gwanda boxers failed to come because of lack of financial resources, but as for Bulawayo, we are happy. If we continue like this we will come right in the Youth Games,” Ndlovu said.
