09 Jul 2018

Upper cut, cross, hook and jabs were order of the day during the Botswana Boxing Association (BoBA) interclub tournament held at Ledumang Senior School on Saturday.

The bout that attracted attention was in the 69kg category, between Clayton Lucas of Prisons and Tshepang Kapinga of School of Excellence in Mogoditshane who will be representing Botswana at the 2018 Algiers African Youth Games from July 19-28.

Despite attracting of lot of interest, the bout did not  live up to spectators  expectations, as Lucas  headgear, which did not fit him well due to his dreadlocks, forced the referee to stop the bout more often to allow his team to tighten it.

During the tedious process of tightening the headgear every now and then, Kapinga frustration was written all over his facing standing by his corner, given that he knew what the bout meant to him ahead of the youth games. However, the referee was left with no option but to stop the bout, and Kapinga won it by Referee Stops Contest RSC)rule.

The frustrated Kapinga said he came prepared for the bout, adding that the technical team had wanted it to gauge their readiness.

“Honestly, my opponent was saved by his headgear, my intention was to go all out, I have been preparing very well for the bout and youth games” he said.

Lucas on the other hand said he was disadvantaged by his headgear adding that they were going to give spectators a very good match. “I can’t afford to buy a right head gear because I have just completed my studies last year and I don’t have financial support, but I maybe next time I will be using the right one, and compete well,” he said.

Coach and manager of Algiers-bound boxing team,  Healer Modiradilo said they had wanted to use the bout to check their weak points and was disappointed because Kapinga was not given enough match practice as the bout was stopped due to headgear.

In other bouts in the 69kg Mmusi Tswiigi of Prisons won 2-1 against Lentswe Zwinila of GVBC. Other interesting matches were between Nicholas Kgosi of Prisons who was beaten by Motlhatswe Makhiya of DTCB 3-0 in the 52kg category. In the 49kg category, Mogoditshane School of Excellence boxer, Festus Madiehe outclassed Modiri Ramampane of University of Botswana by 3-0. ends