Local boxing fans have been promised a night to remember when professional boxing returns to the country tomorrow (Thursday).
Barely five months since holding its last professional tournament in the country, local boxing promotions company, Bond Promotions will host yet another tournament displaying what they say is the ‘best of Botswana boxers.’
According to the company’s founder, Bond Ngubula, the tournament will feature six entertaining bouts, featuring mostly local talent.
Speaking in an interview, Ngubula said of the six expected fights, the only fight that will feature a foreigner is the main event bout, which is expected to pit local lad Lesley Sekotswe against Zimbabwean boxer, Tinashe Mwadziwane.
The fight will be the second for Sekotswe as he builds his experience and portfolio to be considered for big time fight in future.
“As with the other local professional fighters, these fights, though small as they may seem are a stepping stone for them to qualify them to challenge for bigger fights and maybe titles in future,” Ngubula explained.
According to the local promoter, other bouts of the night will be two bouts in the Junior Welter Weight category, featuring Mmoloki Nogeng against Tebogo Kagiso and Modiri Sanyati against Gomotsang Gaasite, a Super Bantam Weight fight between Dimpho Ramokoya and Thato Monabana, a Fly Weight bout between Onkabetse Mookodi and Thapelo Molatlhi as well as another Fly Weight bout between Kgomotso Bok and Letsibogo Basenyapelo.
“If you look at all these bouts, most of the names are very familiar to local boxing fans as they were among the best in the local boxing amateur circles with Botswana Boxing Association (BOBA) and have now moved to professional boxing. This is why we say this will be a very entertaining night for local boxing fans,” Ngubula explained.
Meanwhile, the Bond Promotions founder said to counter against some boxers not showing up, they have lined up back up boxers who can come in and replace any boxer who hasn’t shown up. He said this is a lesson they learnt from last year’s tournament when one Zimbabwean boxer did not turn up for the tournament as was hoped for.
On other issues relating to professional boxing, Ngubula said his company is still struggling to find sponsors for their tournaments. As such, he said it will be difficult for his company to attract some of the best boxers to come and fight in the country.
Tomorrow’s tournament will be held at the Botswana National youth Council (BNYC) Hall and will start at 7 pm. The entry tickets for the tournament will be P500 for VIP while standard ticket will cost P100.
