Thrilling Bouts At Boxing Season Opener

FREDERICK KEBADIRETSE
Staff Writer | Monday February 1, 2010 00:00

 

The tournament produced many thrilling bouts though some boxes showed some signs of rustiness probably due to an extended period of inactivity during the festive break. The crowd that turned out to witness the tournament was left gasping as the first bout lasted only 20 seconds. Lekgetho Mooketsi of UB made short work of Seako Initame with a series of heavy punches. Perhaps the best bout of the tournament was in the 60kg category between Mmoloki Nogeng of Diamond Trading Company Botswana (DTCB) and Patrick Seoko of Kalahari Sands Boxing Club (KSBC). The little known Seoko gave the national team boxer the fight of his life as he finished the first round leading on points.

But Nogeng came back strongly towards the end of the second round and ended up winning the bout 14-4. In another interesting bout in the 60kg category, Moeti Jonas won on knockout as he forced Ofentse Wadinku to retire with 10 seconds left before the end of the bout. The youngster had done well until the third round when Jonas came throwing a flurry of punches, ultimately knocking down his opponent.

The referee had to come to the rescue of Opelo Monang as he found himself at the receiving end of heavy punches from Omphile Phumaphi in the 64kg category. The fight was discontinued in the second round with Phumaphi leading 20-4. Another eye-catching fight was between Lentswe Zwinila of 1-2-5 boxing club and Johannes Douglas of UB.

Zwinila, a bronze medalist at the 2006 Commonwealth youth championships needed strong character to overcome Douglas under a hostile crowd made up mainly of UB students who were rallying behind their man. Zwinila won the fight 8-4.

At the end of the tournament, Botswana Boxing Association (BoBA) competition manager, Phetogo Tsheko said he was impressed with the turnout and the standards.

Tsheko said the tournament served well to prepare the boxers for the Best of the Best tournament at the end of the month. 'We wanted the boxers to get ready for the year through this tournament as they were inactive for some time and I believe we achieved that,' he said.

Other results from the tournament are as follows:
Joseph Monyaku 11-33 Thebe Santu (Fly 51kg)
Tirelo Radikeledi 4-13 Thapelo Molatlhe (Fly 51kg)
Oteng Oteng 10-7 Michael Rantsho (Fly 51kg)
Kgagena Kgageng 27-10 Amos Kelekwang (Bantam 54kg)
Gomotsang Gaasite 12-10 Ofentse Kompone (Light welter 64kg)
Zibani Chikanda 1-8 Larona Francis (Welter 69kg)
Six Moremi 6-0 Tshimologo Njipe
Thatayaone Buchena 8-1 Boga Mvimi Light welter 64) Mvimi won after Buchena retired.
Moabi Mothiba 18-9 Keolopile Gabaikanngwe (Middle 75kg)
Kealeboga Serema 11-1 Alphious Farmer
Oratile Segokgo 11-4 Thato Monabane (Light 60kg)
Phemelo Ramocha and Lesedi Magwabu (Feather 57kg) Ramocha won after referee-stopped bout.