Boxing in Aratwa dilemma
Mqondisi Dube | Saturday April 23, 2022 06:00
However, the local boxing body is in limbo as it fears the repercussions of including Kasemang in the national set-up for amateur boxers after her involvement in professional boxing. Kasemang fought South African, Raider Muleba in a professional bout, BoBA and the Professional Boxing Association of Botswana (PBAB) are now looking to resolve the dilemma.
BoBA secretary-general, Taolo Tloutsile said they have engaged the world mother body, International Boxing Association (IBA) on the matter and are still awaiting a response. It is unclear if a boxer can still fight in amateur ranks after turning professional. He said they will also look into the Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC) rules. "We are consulting our mother bodies being IBA and BNOC statutes. We wrote to IBA and are still waiting for an answer. We are looking at the International Olympic Committee charter.
For now, I can say the consultation is still on. We'll have an informed opinion soon. I think PBAB, as the local professional boxing body, is also doing the same,” Tloutsile said. BoBA has reportedly been mulling dropping Kasemang after her recent decision to turn professional. The boxer was absent when the national team left for the Zone 4 Boxing Championship in Maputo last Sunday. She was preparing for her trip to Johannesburg where she contested under the Scud Missile stable.
Tloutsile said IBA is going through a transition, which has necessitated a lot of changes. “You'll recall that Tokyo Olympics boxing was administered by a task team so at the moment IBA is working on new statutes to be used at IOC and IBA events. IBA also has its professional boxing so this one is under a different federation,” he said. PBAB president, Seroba Binda also said they were waiting for guidelines on the issue. “As Professional Boxing Association of Botswana, we can only await guidelines from a body that governs amateur boxing, because as far as I am concerned, we are the two bodies controlling boxing in Botswana. We should meet to set rules on the same.
It’s a broad issue that involves a lot of technical and health issues that only administrators can look deeper into,” he said. Meanwhile, the national team in Maputo looked set to defend its title after all boxers won on opening day. “All our boxers last night won all their bouts 5-0 respectively - Kobamelo Molatlhegi 49kg and Treasure Moremi 60kg.
We are today (Thursday) only having two bouts; Sadie Kenosi up against the host Jessica Ubisse in the female 60kg division and Lethabo Modukanele playing against a Zambian boxer Jessica Phiri in the 48kg,” BoBA spokesperson, Moitshepi Nkabiti said yesterday.