Four local boxers on Tuesday exited the scene at the ongoing Africa qualifiers for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics at Dakar International Expo Centre in Senegal.
Top-seeded local boxer, Rajab Mohammed failed to reach the men’s flyweight semi-final after a split decision favoured Mozambican Juliano Fernando Gento Máquina.
Mahommed won the first round and piled pressure in the last round, but it was Máquina who prevailed with a split-decision victory to the delight of his corner.
Mohammed had inched past Moroccan Said Mortaji to reach the quarter-final, but the continental gold medalist fell victim to the 2012 London Olympian Máquina.
In the women’s flyweight, Lethabo Modukanele fought Algerian Boualam Roumaysa to the bitter end. It was a rematch of last year’s All Africa Games in Morocco where the Algerian stopped Modukanele on her tracks and went all the way to scoop the coveted first prize.
The UB Boxing Club sensation got off to a good start and threw in terrific combinations in the first two rounds.
The last round was a different ball game as the well-built Algerian threw her weight forward, displaying exquisite defensive discipline.
As the bout progressed, Roumaysa increased the intensity of her punches and within a few minutes of the last round, Modukanele requested time out from the referee as she had injured her right hand.
The Algerian sensed Modukanele’s distress and picked her game until all the five judges waved in her favour at the last whistle.
Botswana’s lightweight hopeful, Aratwa Kasemang traded punches with another Algerian, Imane Khelif and lost 0-5 in a fairly balanced contest where the local lanky boxer appeared physically strong. Her eye-catching punches could not stop the tactically superior Khelif.
In the men’s featherweight, Tefo Maitewa squared off against Ugandan Isaac Masembe and lost 0-5. Maitewa came into the match buoyed by his technical knock-out against Felix Mendes in the preliminary round, but he could not carry on with the great form.
Botswana’s welterweight boxer, Mmusi Tswiige was booted out by Mauritian Merven Clair in the preliminary round.
BOPA