adminMzingaye Sibanda Sports Reporter
BULAWAYO boxer Brighton Masiyambumbi edged Cecil Toto in a close contest during the Bulawayo Amateur Open Boxing tournament held at Manor Hotel on Saturday. Toto matched Masiyambumbi pound for pound in a welterweight fight that he went on to lose on points.The duel between Masiyambumbi and Toto was the best of the tournament.
The second Baba tournament lived up to its billing with 15 bouts.
In the lightweight category Head Quarters One Brigade Casper Mkandla edged Everson Musambidzi of Nkulumane while Arnold Masiyambumbi became the second victim of Mkandla in another fight.
Arnold bounced back to beat Musambidzi who lost all his matches in the same division.
Nkulumane boxer Lovemore Haisoswi got the better of Denzel Mpofu in the bantamweight category while in the pinweight Adonisi Ndlovu beat Simon Ndlovu.
Baba vice-chairman Ezwell Ndlovu praised the standard of competition from the local clubs.
“Clubs have benefited a lot from the hosting of activities we have held so far. The boxers exhibited high level of competition.
“We have a pool of youngsters and our future looks bright, if everything goes well, we are set to scoop more medals again at the National Youth Games,” said Ndlovu.
Bulawayo dominated the boxing segment of last year’s Youth Games.
Ndlovu praised fans for coming in their numbers.
“Though other provinces did not make it, the tournament was good, the fans did not disappoint as well, the venue was fully packed,” said Ndlovu.
Results
Emmanuel Katsaruware (flyweight) bt Leroy Khumalo on points, Hubert Chitera (lightweight) bt Bongani Ndlovu on points, Emmanuel Katsaruware (flyweight) bt Hubert Chitera on points, Brighton Masiyambumbi (weleterweight) bt Cecil Toto on points
Lightweight: Casper Mkandla bt Everson Musambidzi on points, Casper Mnkandla bt Arnold Masiyambumbi on points, Arnold Masiyambumbi bt Everson Musambidzi on points
Welterweight: Brighton Masiyambumbi bt Blessing Katsuwa on points, Cecil Toto bt Edson Mapeka on points
Bantamweight: Denzel Mpofu bt Lovemore Haisoswi (disqualification)
Pinweight: Adonisi Ndlovu bt Simon Phiri on points
Online Reporter