Olympics: Boxer Thabiso ready to stun Africa’s best BABANE
M– He can get his revenge as early as before 7am today. That is Eswatini top boxer Thabiso Dlamini, who will be hoping to hoist the country’s flag when he fights Africa’s number 1 boxer early this morning. The fight is at 6: 30am local time. He faces a familiar opponent in Cameroon’s Albert Mengue, who is also the continent’s number one ranked in his welterweight division while Dlamini is ranked seventh.
The two know each other as they fought in the Olympic Qualifiers in Dakar and it was Mengue who got the qualification while Dlamini did not. However, they meet again today in the Olympics after Dlamini joined the games through a universality slot. They clash in the preliminary round of 32 in the Men’s Welterweight 63- 69kg with the winner set to go through to the last 16.
Dlamini has not forgotten that he lost the qualification spot after a split decision as judges were divided on who should win the fight, others pointing to the local star while others favoured the Cameroonian, who eventually got the nod.
FIGHTING
The fighting spot is Kokugikan Arena in Tokyo, Japan. The Cameroonian qualified to the Olympics through the ranking system ( top three boxers qualified).
Reached for comment Thabiso said it was payback time.
“What is good about this fight is that I know my opponent’s strength and weakness as I lost to him last year. I learned a lot from that fight. Mengue is someone who uses power and he is aggressive. I have to study him and let him bring his fight to me first and then throw in more punches when I see that he is getting tired.
“It’s payback time. Even last time there was controversy after he won. I need to win this fight at all costs to qualify for the last 16,” he said.
Meanwhile, National team boxing Coach Fanana Dlamini also shared similar sentiments.
“This is a blessing in disguise because our boxer once had a fighting match with him. While it is true that he is an African champion, the last time he had a fight with Thabiso we were not convinced. We are going for revenge in this fight with my boxer,” he said.
Chef De Mission Pearl Dlamini said if the boxer could win here, he would advance to the next round and if he lost he was expected to leave for home within four days. She said swimmers Robyn Young and Simanga Dlamini
Boxer Thabiso Dlamini. would compete on July 30 while Sibusiso ‘ Swazi Bolt’ Matsenjwa was expected to compete on August 3.