BoBA struggling to find insurer

Calistus Kolantsho | Wednesday November 13, 2013 15:44

 

BoBA secretary general Dirang Thipe told Mmegi Sport that it has been agreed that boxers should fight without headgears and that cannot happen if they are not insured, as it is risky because fighters can sustain serious head injuries.

He said they were negotiating with some companies to assist them and they hoped for a deal before the championships. He did not reveal the potential sponsors.

Thipe said fighting without headgears is done in professional boxing, but the International Amateur Boxing Association (IABA) has now adopted the practice. 

Thipe noted that Botswana boxers who participated at the World Championships that were held in Kazakhstan in October were informed to remove their headgears before their fights.

Oteng Oteng, Mooketsi Lekgetho and Kagiso Bagwasi represented Botswana. 

Meanwhile, BoBA in conjunction with the Thebephatshwa Boxing Club held inter-club boxing tournament over the weekend to prepare for the forthcoming championship. Thipe said there were 21 bouts for men and three women's bouts.

The inter club was not a platform to qualify for the Best of Best Championships, but to showcase readiness for the championships.

He observed that the turnout was low because some boxers were writing school exams. He said that most of the clubs were made up of school going members.

He said women's boxing was still new in the country and it was common among students.  He said that most women boxers were from Kgalagadi North and Selebi-Phikwe boxing clubs.