Manju injures thumb in boxing final

News trickling down Slimline boxing sources is that the former national boxer Manju Wanniarachchi injured his thumb and sustained a fracture during his fight against W.R.I Weerakkodi of Sri Lanka Army possibly in the second round of the finals of the Bantam Weight 56 Kilogramme class at the 86th National Boxing championship organised by the Amateur Boxing Association of Sri Lanka and sponsored by MAS Holdings and concluded at the Kandy City Centre on Tuesday night.

Manju Wanniarachchi won this fight on a 21/14 points decision. When he found that there was a pain in his thumb, he found that this could be a fracture as the pain was excruciating. He wanted to retire but considering the fact that he was close to the official retirement age of 34, he decided to con- tinue the fight, come what may.

The third round saw not the best of him as a result of this fracture but the points he had accumulated in the first two rounds was almost unassailable. Though he could not punch in the third round as a result of this injury, he had to just keep himself afloat to win the bout.

Another surprising factor was that Manju Wanniarachchi’s opponent was cautioned on no less than six occasions but not issued a warning which if repeated could lead to disqualification. Why so many cautions ware issued without a warning is a mystery.

Manju Wanniarachchi thrilled the crowds and almost immediately after winning his fight, went to the ‘patron saint’ of boxing at MAS Holdings Dian Gomes and fell on his knees and worshipped for all he had done for him in times of ecstasy and agony and given him all the encouragement.