16 Oct 2016

Local boxers have closed this year’s interclub boxing tournaments on a high note and are waiting to trade heavy punches at next month’s national boxing championship.
Speaking on the sidelines of a closely contested interclub boxing tournament hosted by SSKB Boxing Club, Botswana Boxing Association (BoBA) competitions manager, Phetogo Tsheko admitted that the association’s technical team was working on the final preparations to stage the boxing calendar’s top drawer event by the hosting of preliminaries on the first week of November, while the finals will be played on Novermber 14-15.
On Saturday at least 60 boxers from across different BoBA affiliates countrywide converged at the SSKB training hall for the last round of the monthly interclub tournaments hosted by the Mogoditshane based club.
The much anticipated explosive light heavy weight clash between former 69kg champion, Mmusi Tswiige and veteran pugilist Keoagile Rantutu failed to produce the predicted spark. After a cagey opening first round Rantutu began to take control of the fight doubling up on his jab and executing excellent defence to parry Tswiige’s well-timed hooks.
As expected, the former Ghanzi-based boxer looked the quicker and hungrier of the two with his stylish southpaw stance but met strong opposition from the army man.
Rantutu continued to score with tactical jabs and dominated the latter rounds as his hand was finally lifted high up in the air by the referee at the end of the third and final round.
In the 69kg Lentswe Zwinila thumped visiting Phillimon Moipolai from Francistown.
The hard-hitting national team boxer forced the referee to stop the contest at the beginning of the second round as Moipolai succumbed to his blows. In another exciting ladies bout, Katlego Olatotse narrowly beat Mafika boxing club’s Nametsegang Makoba. Kefentse Molalapata beat Godisang Kebinamore of Thebephatshwa, Kagiso Ntoti of EMG club retired early against Kabelo Bagwasi, all the 69kg bouts were decided on a technical knockout as Lesetse Rethatoleng edged Atang Nkala of UB and Raymond Seleka of BMC beat Otsile Molato from Francistown