09 Jun 2023

It is just a matter of hours before local professional pugilist, Steven Bagwasi enters the ring to face what will be the fiercest battle in order to hold on to the WBF Super Featherweight title.

It would be an agonising scene for the DRAD Professional Boxing Stable pug to see the title, which he snatched from Tanzania’s Said Chino, in August last year slip off his fingers.

Full use of home ground advantage and technique remains critical for Bagwasi to make sure that an equally skilled South Africa’s Stimela Lunga does not snatch it from him in a 12-round bout that is expected to last 47 minutes from 10:30pm to 11:17pm at the Gaborone International Convention Centre (GICC) tonight.

One would certainly want to know just how prepared he is for the fight and for Bagwasi, his horde of fans should be ready to see him reclaim glory.

“I am aware that my opponent has been working hard preparing for the bout and has hunger to clinch it. I am ready for the challenge. I have been preparing for the fight for the past six months,” said confident and determined Bagwasi.

On the other hand, Lunga, who is the African Boxing Union Champion and South Africa’s national champion, is also ready to show how skilled he is and send Bagwasi to the gutters to claim the title in a bout organised by Thuso Khubamang of Scud Missile Promotions.

At a weigh-in press conference, June 8, Bagwasi and Lunga surprisingly registered equal weight of 58.4kg, seemingly fit enough for either of them to end the fight even before 47 minutes lapse. Only a technical knockout (TKO) would ensure that one of them reduces the somewhat longest minutes of a fighting contest.

The duo boast of a rich career in professional boxing. Bagwasi has fought in nine non-title bouts, wining eight and losing one. His first title bout won him the title that he was currently holding.

Lunga, also ready for the battle, has an equally impressive professional boxing career with 17 professional bouts where he registered one loss.

“I am ready for the stern test and prepared to show my skills and fight the champion,” he said.

Meanwhile, before the main bout between Bagwasi and Lunga, boxing enthusiasts would be treated to supporting bouts that would feature Bagwasi’s eldest brother Kagiso, who would take the ropes against Gerisse Wangui from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the welterweight category.

Another supporting bout will have Tebogo Rennie and Edward Matlhare face off in the bantamweight category.

Romeo Nkisa and Gillian Ditshwene as well as Boifang Kenaope and Moreki Maiketso will also square up in their respective bouts of yet another bantamweight category while Kutlwano Ogaketse should also be ready to face Lens Ngoy of DRC in the junior welterweight.

Another local pugilist, Mmoloki Thipe would have had a chance to test his professional skill against Lucky Hobyane of South Africa in the featherweight, but the latter could not make it due to unexpected state of affairs. Ends