TKOs dominate Kilimanjaro Boxing Bonanza 0 Oshakati-based Michael Benhard knocked down his opponent, Johannes Kutumba from Windhoek, within 39 seconds of the first round of the main fight of the Kilimanjaro Boxing Bonanza on Saturday.Referee Ricky Tshabalala stopped the fight because Kutumba could not immediately recover from the knockout during their lightweight bout scheduled for eight rounds.
Five fights of the seven on the programme ended in technical knockouts (TKOs).
The other four TKOs were recorded by Josua Ndemunonga when he knocked down John Mukwendje in the first round; Vakufileipo Nashivela who stopped Hedison Nghipondoka in the second round; Natanael Shimanda who knocked down Gerson Vaeta in the fourth round; and David Angula stopping Frankie Kativa in the first round.
The two fights decided on points were Matias Festus (winner) v Sam Sam; and Johannes Shitilifa (winner) v Julius Sheefeni.
The Oshakati-based Kilimanjaro Boxing Academy (KBA) of former Namibian international boxer Joseph Benhard (Michael’s father and coach) organised the boxing bonanza on Saturday, while a local businessman, Erastus ‘Mvula Mnyango’ Mvula, sponsored N$100 000.
Home Affairs and Immigration Deputy Minister Erastus Uutoni, who is the patron of the KBA, officiated at the event.
“Let me commend Benhard for bringing us together this evening and our businessman Mvula Mnyango for sacrificing his N$100 000 to take the youth from the street to this boxing bonanza,” Uutoni said.
He urged other local businesspeople to follow Mvula’s example by contributing to the academy.
Oshakati Mayor Katrina Shimbulu, Chief Herman Iipumbu of Uukwambi, and Namibia Boxing Federation (NBF) administrator Joe Kaperu also attended the event.
NAMPA