Author: ELKANA KUHENGA
AfricaPress-Tanzania: JKT Headquarters Club got off to a flying in the national boxing championship after securing victories in their early bouts at River Nile hall in Babati, Manyara yesterday.
The competition that commenced on Monday, has drawn clubs from Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Pwani, Manyara, Arusha and Kagera.
The clubs involved are Tanzanite Manyara, Tarangire Manyara, JKT Headquarters, JKT Mgulani, JKT Mbweni, JKT Ruvu, Ngome Club, BandCoy, Kagera and Arusha Team.
JKT Headquarters Club have managed to win all five of their fights, with two of them by knockout, one by unanimous decision and two others by a walk over.
The Headquarters heroes were Hamdani Issa, Sebastian John, Mohamed Juma, Abdallah Mohamedi and Boniface Mlingwa.
In a lightweight bout, Hamdani Issa secured his club’s first win after he took down his opponent Hassani Mrutu of JKT Ruvu by technical knockout in the second round.
Sebastian John earned his team a second win in a light welterweight when he floored Shabani Mganda of JKT Mgulani in the first round.
Boniface Mlingwa added his team’s third win in bantam Weight after beating Elius Simon (Arusha) by judges’ unanimous decision.
JKT HQ registered their fourth and fifth wins through Mohamed Juma in welter weight and Abdallah Mohamedi in light fly weight through a walk over after opponents did not step on the ring.
Even though JKT HQ has been doing well in each fight, their fellows JKT Ruvu and Mgulani clubs have had a tough time to register wins.
In bantam weight, Emanuel Marwa was the only boxer from Ruvu who won, while his colleagues; Hassan Mrutu (lightweight), Hamadi Rashid (light fly weight) and Mbwana Inocent (Fly Weight) lost.
Hassan Mrutu lost by TKO to Hamdani Issa (JKT Head Quarters), Hamadi Rashid lost on points to Jonas John (Manyara Tanzanite) and Mbwana Innocent to Steven Anastaz (Manyara Tarangire).
Mwarami Salum (light weight) was the only boxer from JKT Mgulani who registered a win, while the four others lost.
Shabani Mganda lost by KO to Sebastian John (JKT Head Quarters), Hussein Juma lost to Ezra Paul of Ngome who also secured one victory in five fights they fought.
Two of the fights they lost by walkover, one by KO and two by points decision.
Among the most exciting moments in the competition included the two big losses Ruvu club have received from civilian boxers.
Jonas John of Tanzanite Manyara won the light flyweight bout against Hamadi Rashidi (JKT Ruvu Club) while in a bantamweight fight; Steven Anastaz registered an easy win, with all judges voting in his favour as he took down Mbwana Innocent from JKT Ruvu.
