Changalawe walks to Mandela Boxing semis

SOUTH AFRICA: TANZANIAN boxer, Yusuf Changalawe comfortably advanced to the semifinals of the Mandela African Boxing Cup after defeating Egyptian boxer, Salah Orabi in Durban, South Africa.

Changalawe dominated the Thursday fight, landing more solid punches and dictating the pace, while Orabi struggled to hit his target with wild swings. With a 5-0 score against Egypt’s Orabi, Changalawe, advanced to the semi-finals.

The final games of this new Mandela tournament will take place on Sunday, April 21st, 2024. Several renowned boxers lined up to take part in the inaugural Mandela African Boxing Cup that is staged at the International Convention Centre. It commenced on April 15th.

The prize money fund for the event is 500,000 US dollars. Tanzania is represented by five boxers; as of right now, Changalawe and Azizi Chala, who are in the semi-finals, are the only two remaining.

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Wednesday’s bouts saw Tanzanian boxers Abdallah Mfaume and Ezra Paulo Mwanwango suffering in defeats. Following his win, Changalawe will now face Namibian pugilist, Phillipus Tangein, in the semi-finals.

This is Changalawe’s second win against his fiercest competitor on the continent Orabi; in March of last year, he exacted retribution by beating 4-3 in the 16th stage of the African Games in Accra, 2023.

The two met again in the 2023 African Continent Olympic qualification final that took place in Dakar, Senegal. It was the first battle between the two African champions in the light-heavyweight 80kg division.

Changalawe lost the match and therefore missed his first opportunity to compete in the Paris 2024 Olympics.