Upcoming pugilist voted Baba best boxer

Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
TSHAKA Youth Centre’s upcoming pugilist Lwazi Mpofu was voted the Bulawayo Amateur Boxing Association’s (Baba) best boxer following two wins in a tournament held at Manor Hotel on Saturday.

Baba’s first tournament of the year had 12 bouts of which Mpofu won the second fight of the day on points against Andile Mthiyane of Nkulumane and capped his day with a points victory against Nketa’s Lwazi Moyo.

Mpofu, 18, took up boxing in October and has emerged as one of the city’s sporting prospects and will get another opportunity to prove that his double wins were not a fluke in a fortnight when Baba stages the Independence Tournament.

The Independence Tournament is set for April 16 at Mathonisa Beer Garden in Mpopoma.

“We’ve resumed our programmes for the year and we’ll be holding a tournament every month save for April where we’ve two. We held one at the weekend and we’ll have our annual Independence Tournament later this month. We hope to unearth gems at the tournaments and make Bulawayo the undisputed home of boxing,” said Arvin Mathe, Baba’s secretary-general.

He said Baba will also use the tournaments to identify boxers that will represent Bulawayo at national competitions such as the National Youth Games, the Champions of Champions and Inter-Provincial Games.

Bulawayo’s boxers will be chosen from Nketa, Sikhulile High School, Tshaka, Nkulumane, Lobengula and Luveve’s Percy Ibbotson boxing clubs.

Results from Baba’s first tournament

Bantamweight: Mighty Kudzotsa (Nketa) knocked out Mthulisi Dube (Sikhulile), Marko Sibanda (HQ One Brigade), knocked out Nicky Musonza (Nkulumane), Future Nkomo (Lobengula) knocked out Zibusiso Nyoni (Nketa)

Light Welterweight: Adneta Mabeza (Sikhulile) knocked out Elijah Dube (Nketa)

Welterweight: Lawzi Mpofu (Tshaka) won on points against Andile Mthiyane (Nkulumane), Lwazi Mpofu (Tshaka) won on points against Lwazi Moyo (Nketa)

Light-Flyweight: Mengezi Mbambo (Sikhulile) knocked out Kelvin gatsheni (Sikhulile)

Lightweight: Takawira Mutonga (Nketa) won on points against Sindiso Ndlovu (Lobengula), Godknows Sithole (HQ One Brigade) won on points against Melusi Ngwenya (Nketa)

Catchweight: Cleo Simozo (Sikhulile) won on points against Concert Sibanda (Sikhulile), Devine Jiyane (Lobengula) won on points against Wisdom Nyakota (Nketa), Wiseman tshuma (Lobengula) won on points against Everson Musambidzi (Nkulumane)