25 Nov 2015

Left jab, cross left and right hook were the order of the day at Gaborone City Council hall, where crème de la crème of boxers were battling to be crowned champions in a Botswana Boxing Association Championship finals.

The most interesting  bout was between Kagiso Bagwasi of DTCB and Atang Mosenke of Prisons, which Bagwasi won with a Technical Knockout (TKO) in the 64 kg. Despite losing, Mosenke did not go down without fighting, given that in the first round, he defended very well denying Bagwasi to do as he pleases, thus frustrating him.

However, Bagwasi came with guns blazing in the second round and a left upper cut and left cross was enough for his opponent to give up the fight.

Another bout which kept the audience on their feet was the battle of the army boys between Lentswe Zwinila of Glen Valley Boxing Club and Kooagile Rantutu of SSKB in the 69 kg category.

The bout started with both boxers showing little respect for one another, but it was Zwinila who looked better in the first round.

Rantutu recovered in the second round, throwing jabs at his opponent, but Zwinila only managed to beat him with his good speed techniques.

In the third round, the two boxers fought like it was their last day in the ring and at the end Zwinila won it with a 2-1 margin.

After the bout, Zwinila told BOPA that he had prepared for his opponent very well given that he knows his strength and weakness.

He said Rantutu was a strong opponents who always give him a good competition, adding he won the bout by using his speed, while his opponent was very slow to react.

“We always meet in competitions, and I always emerge victorious. This time I wanted to prove that I am the best,” he said. 

Rantutu said he was happy that he did his assignment well despite the fact that the judges decided to give his opponent the bout.

He however said he will continue to work hard to prove to his nemesis that he remains the best in 69 kg.

“Nothing will demoralise me, even the judges, I am going to work even extra harder, because I have realised that I was not only fighting with my opponent in the ring but with other people,” he said.

In the 49 kg category, Marshall Mokgwelwa of DTCB managed to win the bout with 3-0 against Willoux Garethata of Mafika, while Ghanzi Boxing Club boxer Khumoyame Basupeng is the 52 kg champion after winning 3-0 against Mothibadira Gosata of Eastern Military Garrison.

DTCB boxer, Kutlwano Ogakeetse won 2-1 against Ronald Motswakae of SSKB in the 56 kg, while Kabelo Bagwasi of DTCB was crowned 60 kg champion after clobbering Kagiso Ntoti 3-0.

Zibani Chikanda of Eastern Military Garrison taught Tletlo Motswakgomo of Mafia some boxing techniques when he chastened him 3-0 in the 75 kg category.

Bobby Botshelo of Francistown, recorded 3-0 against Chriswell of BMC in 81 kg, while veteran Oteng Phatshwane of Eastern Military Garrison, failed to handle Thabang Motsewabeng in the last bout of the day, Motsewabeng won 2-1.

In the ladies bouts, Koketso Dipogiso of Kgalagadi North Boxing club managed to win the bout with a knock out in the 51 kg.

In the 54 kg, Galefele Reneetse of SSKB outclassed Boitshepo Thomas of Mafika with 4-0, while Kgalagadi North Boxing club boxer Orapeleng Ketshametse won 3-1 against Irene Modikwa of Mafika.

At the end of the tournament, DTCB scooped position one with 25 points, after all their fiver boxers won gold medals and their coach, Thebe Setlalekgosi was voted as the best coach of the tournament.

On position two was Eastern Military Garrison with 12 points followed by Ghanzi with eight points.

In individual awards, the most promising boxer went to Ogaketse of DTCB, on the ladies category it was won by Ketshametse of Kgalagadi North Boxing club.

Best Boxer went to Kagiso Bagwasi of DTCB, while Dipogiso won it for the ladies.

The best bout went to Kagiso Bagwasi and Kabo Seitshiro of Eastern Military Garrison, while on the ladies category it was won by Modikwa and Ketshametse. Ends