By SAMUEL LUKHANDA –
NDOLA clubs dominated the first day of the 2016 Zambia Trade Fair amateur tournament much to the delight of the home crowd though the event was overshadowed by poor hygiene levels.
Budding boxers were subjected to sharing mouth guards in the 13 bouts as well as exchanging shorts and vests, which were dirty and some even bloodied.
To make it worse, the girls had to strip in front of the overzealous fans which made for uncomfortable viewing.
From the 13 bout event that lasted late into the evening, Kalewa won four ahead of Ndola City Council (NCC) and Indeni, who won three fights each.
There was a win for Lubengele of Chililabombwe and another from Mikonfwa of Luanshya in the tournament that will be hugely remembered for poor organisation.
Back inside the ring, the youngest fighters on the day started proceedings with Jason Chipango of Lubengele beating Chali Mbewe of Indeni to win by unanimous point decision.
NCC’s Chris Mulenga punished Prosperous Mubanga of Mikonfwa with a knock out as a flurry of punches sent the Mikonfwa boxer out of the ring through the loose ropes and the referee had seen enough.
Francis Chanda of NCC Knocked Out Erick Kamukile of Kalewa in the
first round and a smiling Timothy Mofya knocked out his across town
opponent John Kalunga with clean but damaging shots to the face which left him blooded.
Paul Mwanga of Mufulira fight was stopped few seconds into the fight by the referee after Chrispin Muchimba of Kalewa looked out of depth.
Other fights saw Jackson Zulu of NCC beat Jonathan Zulu of Mikonfwa, Dickson Banda of Indeni beat Gift Chikoti of NCC, Percy Mulenga of NCC won against Mwila of Kalewa while Ceasar Bwalya against Ben Banda was declared non-contest due to injury.
In the first of the two girl’s bout, Indeni’s Mary Bwalya beat a taller Dyness Mwenya of Mufulira via a unanimous point’s decision while Ruth Bwalya of Kalewa laboured to win on split point’s decision against Mary Phiri of NCC.