Boxers impress huge crowd at Wells Estate
A THRILLING amateur boxing event was hosted by the Nelson Mandela Bay Amateur Boxing Organisation (Nmbabo) in front of a packed crowd at the Wells Estate Indoor sports centre at the weekend.
The tournament in Port Elizabeth featured nine bouts in the junior boys’ and girls’ division on Saturday.
Lisakhanya Bobani, who came into the event with a 10fight unbeaten record, tore through his opponents and won his final bout by unanimous decision to take gold in boys 40kg to 45kg category.
Tenacious Andrea Plaatjies took on an undefeated Nobesuthu Nyimba, of the Eyethu Boxing Club.
Plaatjies put up a good fight and did not allow Nyimba to take easy points.
Nyimba used her height to her advantage against a quick-footed Plaatjies, who threw brilliant combinations to the abdominal area.
The fight went down to the wire, with Nyimba winning by a 2-1 split decision.
Anele Mbembe took gold in the men’s youth division against Athenkosi Plaatjies.
Nelson Mandela Bay Amateur Boxing president and organiser Andile Gege said: “Our talent is constantly growing and the fighters are eager to prove themselves.
“There is, however, room for improvement as an organisation and from our boxers.”
“We want to keep them motivated so they can take on bigger competitions,” Gege said.
The event continues in Uitenhage at the weekend to finalise the district championship, after which a team will be selected to represent the Nelson Mandela Bay metro in Mthatha next month.
Meanwhile, the SA National Amateur Boxing Organisation (Sanabo) launched the Vuka Sidlale Open League in Springs on Saturday.
The league will have two legs – with five provinces fighting under the red in the Gauteng region while the remainder of the four provinces will fight in the blue corner in the Eastern Cape at the Mdantsane Indoor Centre in East London.
A minimum of 10 men and five women from each of the nine provinces will be participating in the new tournament.
Two boxers from Nelson Mandela Bay will be selected to join the Eastern Cape team.
The two venues will host 18 tournaments to eventually culminate into the finals, where prize money and championship titles will be up for grabs.
Nmbabo technical official Vumazonke Mazizi said: “This new Vuka Sidlale league will become a happy hunting ground for talent and a haven for development of our future Olympic prospects.
“The ultimate goal is to ensure that South Africa is ready to have a world-class boxing team participating at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.”