DTCB boxing’s light heavy weight prot├®g├®, Thabang Motsewabeng defeated veteran Eastern Military Garrison (EMG)’s Zibani Chikanda by a 3 ÔÇô 0 unanimous decision to be crowned the country’s best Light heavyweight boxer. In an epic three round clash between the two, it was the DTCB man who emerged victorious in what was perhaps the best match of the weekend.
It was a fast and furious duel between the two from as early as the bell rang as they traded punches. It was however the 22 year old Motsewabeng who was the better of the two as he shaded his experienced opponent. It was more of the same in the second round as the two traded blow after blow, much to the delight of the spectators. Unlike in any other match before them, the two boxers had the loudest cheers in the house as they slugged it out.
While Motsewabeng had been outstanding in the first round, there was little to separate the two in the second, though Motsewabeng went on to win it. Perhaps having sensed that he was about to lose the bout, it was Chikanda who became aggressive in the final round, putting his younger opponent on the back foot. Despite the occasional exchanges in the round, none of the two boxers did any damage to each other. In the end, the judges unanimously declared Motsewabeng the winner. In the men’s Light Welter Weight category, Kagiso Bagwasi beat Ookeditse Bobeilwe to be crowned champion. Despite being at the receiving end of Bagwasi’s solid punches, it was Bobeilwe who was the aggressor. Bagwasi on the other hand seemed happy to let his opponent charge at him and catch him with solid combinations on the counter.
In other fights in the men’s category, Marshal Mokgwaela (DTCB) beat Khumoyame Basupeng (Ghanzi) 3 – 0 to win the men’s Light Fly Weight (46 – 49 kg) while Thabiso Mpolokeng of 1-2-5 beat Keobaka Motsebe (BMC) 2 -1 in men’s Fly Weight category. The men’s Bantam Weight category went to BMC’s Tirafalo Seoko (BMC) who beat DTCB’s Oarabile Setlhako (DTCB) 3 ÔÇô 0 while another of the Bagwasi brothers, Kabelo of DTCB beat Thebephatshwa’s Alphias Farmer 3 – 0 to claim the Light Weight title.┬áIn the battle of the heavyweights, it was Tsenang Mohuhutso of EMG who went home the winner after beating fellow officer in arms from Glenn Valley Oteng Phatshwe. Mohuhutso won by a 2 – 1 split decision.
In the women’s category, an interesting bout came in the Welter Weight category, where Keneilwe Rakhudu of DTCB beat Pearl Morake of Botho by a 2 ÔÇô 1 split decision. This is despite Morake having started the better of the two fighters, shading Rakhudu in the first round. The latter found it hard to land any meaningful punches on her opponent in the first round, with Morake using her height and reach to keep Rakhudu at bay. Credit must however go to Rakhudu who came from the short break rejuvenated and took the fight to Morake. The two were then involved in an end to end blow exchange, with neither giving way. Having now managed to get closer to her opponent, Rakhudu managed to outbox Morake and was eventually declared the winner. Still in the women’s category, Joyce Katlholo made light work of her women’s Light Fly against Oarabile Kgopolo. Katlholo had Kgopolo at the receiving end of some solid punches, with the latter having a standing count on the first round.
The fight was however stopped in the second round as she received another standing count, only that she could not beat the count. In the women’s Fly Weight, Rodhar Maswabi caused an upset, beating Koketso Dipogiso by TKO in the last round. Looking the most likely to win, Dipogiso received a solid punch that left her oozing blood in the fourth and final round. The boxer then discontinued to get help stem the blood flow from the nose. In another bout, Kelebogile Monthusi of EMG beat Tebo Gaotingwe of DTCB by a unanimous decision in the ladies’ Light weight.
