04 Aug 2022

Botswana’s high flying women minimum weight boxer, Lethabo Modukanele, takes to the ring with Demie-Jade Resztan of England tomorrow.

Modukanele set a date with Resztan at the Commonwealth Games after an empathic 4-0 victory in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.

In Resztan, Modukanele faces a mammoth task as the English boxer beat Zambian, Margaret Tembo, 5-0 to inch into the semi-finals.

Resztan is a bronze medalist from the world champs and also possesses European silver and bronze medals.

During the closely contested quarterfinal match, Modukanele convinced the judges in her three rounds against Nadeeka Pushpakumari of Sri Lanka.

She opened her bout brightly, taking the approval of four of the five judges to finish her match on 4-0.

Pushpakumari did not fold her jab and wait for defeat, as she came alive in the second round trying to engage Modukanele’s speed and excellent footwork.

The Asian boxing championship bronze medalist threw everything in her power in the third round and there was little difference between the two, until Modukanele landed a punch to force an intervention from the referee.

It was quickly followed by a second standing of eight and ultimately swung the fight in favour of Modukanele.

The last round was a different ball game as the well-built Sri Lankan threw her body weight forward displaying exquisite offensive tact.

As the second round progressed, Pushpakumari strengthened the intensity of her punches, but hit blanks until the last whistle.

Modukanele and all those who won their bouts in the women’s minimum weight category, guaranteed themselves at least a bronze medal going into the semis on Saturday. ENDS