ESPN Africa Boxing 27 Jan Roundup

Botswana shines at inaugural ESPN Africa Boxing for 2022

Last night in Johannesburg, ESPN Africa Boxing took place in Johannesburg, with superb boxing prowess displayed by some of the continent’s top boxing talent, in front of an exhilarated crowd. This was the inaugural event for the year, with events planned for the last Thursday of every month, to be broadcast live on ESPN, SABC Sport and on ESPN across Latin America, with the aim of showcasing Africa’s boxing talent to an international audience.

The main bout of the evening delivered on all fronts and produced a nail-biting affair with Botswana’s Steven ‘Small’ Bagwasi winning via split decision (96-94, 94-96, 96-95) against South Africa’s Koos ‘The Great Last Warrior’ Sibiya in a 10-round Junior Lightweight contest. Overall, it was a magnificent night of boxing in Johannesburg with six enthralling bouts that delivered 33 rounds of action and two knockouts.

The results are as follows:

  • Donjuan van Heerden wins by first round KO (18 seconds) over Khodani Nephalane
  • Katlego Khanyisa wins by Unanimous Decision over Clement Pilusa (39-37, 40-37, 39-37)
  • Ellen Simwaka wins by fourth round TKO (1min, 14 seconds) over Gabisilie Tshabalala
  • Sphamandla Manqatha wins by Unanimous Decision over Gerard Titus (58-56, 57-56, 59-58)
  • Kutlwano Ogaketse wins by Unanimous Decision over Prince Ndlovu (77-76, 78-74, 78-74)
  • Steven Bagwasi wins by Split Decision over Koos Sibiya (96-94, 94-96, 96-95)

Coming to you on the last Thursday of every month, ESPN Africa Boxing will feature a minimum of five main fights per event, with a promise to showcase the best of boxing talent from across the continent. The action will also feature one all-female bout per event in order to help grow the sport and provide aspiring young female boxers with a platform. With the immense popularity of the sport on the continent, viewers can look forward to fierce competition as fighters duel for glory in the ring. 

For updates regarding ESPN Africa Boxing and other sports, fans can connect to @ESPNAfrica on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or visit https://www.espn.com/

By Andrew Germishuys

Founder of SAMDB | Actor | Armourer | Tech Enthusiast With over two decades in the film industry, I'm a seasoned actor and skilled armourer. I hold numerous certifications in acting and filmmaking, complemented by degrees and diplomas in IT and technology, giving me a unique blend of creative and technical expertise. When I'm not on set or in the workshop, you'll find me immersed in the world of gaming and VR, fuelling my passion for cutting-edge technology. Connect with me: X / Twitter Facebook Instagram Mastodon Threads Explore my work on SAMDB IMDb