Road to boxing championships begins

Calistus Kolantsho | Thursday September 17, 2015 13:56

There were 17 bouts during the interclub competition, with eight ending in technical knockouts (TKOs) while two finished in knockouts (KOs) on Saturday.

Those who lost through TKOs and KOs are automatically ruled out of the national championships, which will be held in November.

BoBA spokesperson, Kenny Maragana said yesterday that the qualification process began last weekend with the Gantsi tournament.  He said the national championship is a competition that every boxer in the country wants to be part of, hence the toughness of qualifiers.  He said the weekend competition was part of the selection process for the national championships.

The next interclub competition will be held next weekend at a venue to be decided.

“The Gantsi event has shown (that there is) improvement. We had 17 bouts and eight of them ended in technical knockout and two in knockout. That is an improvement compared to last year,” he said.

In the 60kg category, Mompati Kabanjera of Maun boxing club won through a TKO against Bobby Letlhoagoje of Gantsi.  Innocent Chombo from Maun was floored by Oteng Phatswe of Eastern Military Garrison (EMG) in the third round in the 91kg category. 

Modise Malapela of EMG won 3-0 against Tshiamo Kgweenyane of Thebephatshwa Airbase (TAB) in the 49kg bout and Calvin Modikwe of Glen Valley saw red when he was beaten through a TKO in the second round by Tebogo Rennie of Francistown in the 52kg category.  Gantsi boxer, Khumoyame Basupeng won 3-0 against Nkarabile Mothibedi of Diamond Trading Company in the 56kg fight. Under the same weight, Mopati Gaanamotse of Gantsi also hammered Mothibadira Gasata by 3-0.  Mothusi Wetshootsile of TAB did not waste time and won through a TKO in the second round against Olefile Lukas of Francistown in the 60kg bout. Robert Motswakae of SSKB boxing club was in his element as he won by a TKO against Kelapile Mogolokwane of New Xade boxing club in the 60kg category.

 EMG continued with their good run when Kagiso Ntoti won 2-1 against Cornelious Sekati of GVBC in the 64kg bout.

Mmoloki Thipe of Gantsi responded for Gantsi when he beat David Gasewaope of SSKB 3-0 in the 64kg category. In another fight, Tshepo Stoffel (SSKB) beat Aobakwe Terena of TAB in the 69kg category, while Ookeditse Bobeilwe of the same club beat Otukile Madube of TAB through a KO in the same weight.

 Yamodimo Baitsemi of EMG knocked out Kebonyekgotla Lefaso of TAB in the 69kg. 

The 75kg bout was won by Lentswe Zwinila (GVBC) against Ogomoditse Seleka of EMG.

In another 75 kg bout, Keoagile Rantutu knocked out Singa Rodgers of Francistown in round one.

Botshelo Robby (Francistown) won the 81kg bout against Calvin Seabe (GVBC) in round one with a TKO.  Onalenna Ndawana (Francistown) won the last match of the tournament with a TKO against Oteng (Gantsi) in the 81kg category.