GHANA: TANZANIAN boxers have performed outstandingly at the All-Africa Games after its three boxers, Yusuf Changalawe, Musa Maregesi and Ezra Mwanjwango reached the semi-finals and secured medals.
Tanzania has sent eight pugilists in the ongoing tournament which is taking place in Accra, Ghana and Changalawe made it to the semi-finals in the Light Heavyweight category after defeating Maxinillano Bibano from Equatorial Guinea on Tuesday night.
He managed to wear down his opponent within the first minute of the first round with heavy punches, and the referee stopped the fight, declaring Changalawe the winner by Technical Knockout (TKO).
In the semi-finals, he will battle against Pita Kabeji of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In another development, Maregesi (Cruiserweight 86kg) and Mwanjwango (Lightweight 60kg) have also secured a spot in the semi-finals of their respective weight categories.
Mwanjwango won his quarterfinal fight against Mujinga Frazier from DR Congo in the Lightweight category by points and he will now play in the semi-finals against Andrew Chilata from Zambia.
Mwanjwango became the second boxer to secure a medal for Tanzania in the 13th African Games Accra 2023, which is currently ongoing in the city of Accra, Ghana.
The first boxer to secure a medal for the country was Musa Maregesi in the Cruiserweight category. Speaking with the Daily News, Boxing Federation of Tanzania (BFT) president Lukelo Willilo expressed his excitement.
“This is greater than we expected, this victory is a gift to our President Samia Suluhu Hassan, as we continue to pay the reward of good preparation by honouring our nation internationally, this is the fruit of all Tanzanians and all stakeholders who participated in supporting the national teams.
We continue to pray for more medals” BFT and a member of the board of Directors of the African Boxing Federation (AFBC) Willilo disclosed.
