EXCITEMENT IN AFRICA AS TUNISIA PRO BOXING GALA NIGHT TAKES CENTRE STAGE TODAY

The camaraderie mood in Tunisia’s capital city, Tunis, is palpable.

Excitement and glowing faces of joy sum up the inner satisfaction and anticipation of boxing enthusiasts gathered in the North African country for today’s IBA-sanctioned 10-bout Pro Boxing Gala Night at the exotic scenery of the Sidi Boussaid Gymnasium against a backdrop of the charming Mediterranean Sea.

For sports historians, this is a big day in Africa boxing as it ushers in a project that promises to change the lives of some of Africa’s top amateur boxers provided honesty and professionalism supersede the greed and self aggrandizement which have been the bane Africa’s boxing leadership.

A hefty pat on the back to the International Boxing Association’s (IBA) Secretary General and CEO Chris Roberts OBE and his team for their wisdom to support this valuable boxing event whose theme is unity and solidarity for Africa’s boxing family.

Putting aside the sideshows that preceded this important day, the IBA barons have led from the front and exemplified their genuine commitment to uplift the welfare of African boxers by sanctioning this historic pro boxing show that will be attended by hundreds of boxing-crazy fans of Tunisia.

Kudos to the passionate boxing guru, Congolese Boxing Federation President and professional boxing promoter Ferdinand Ilunga Luyoyo and the Tunisia Boxing Federation President Barbouche Zied for joining hands with IBA to midwife the birth of this important Pro Boxing Gala.

The seeds that the two leaders have planted in today’s show ably assisted by the International Boxing Association will no doubt blossom into a flourishing competition that will change Africa’s boxing landscape and empower Africa’s boxers financially in addition to inspiring them excel in major global tournaments.

Today’s card features 22 boxers from 11 African countries namely Tunisia, Madagascar, Sierra Leone, Congo Brazzaville, Tanzania, Angola, Algeria, Togo, Libya, Uganda and Cameroon.

Three African champions from DR Congo have graced the Tunisia Pro Boxing Gala Night. They are female flyweight Nyembo Gisele, middleweight David Tshama and cruiserweight Pita Kabeji, the three-time African champion who will headline the event by taking on Tunisia’s Mohamed Riahi in the main cruiserweight bout.

Spearheading Tunisia’s onslaught is African Games silver medalist and Africa Championships bronze medal winner Waffa Hafsi and Kinshasa Africa Championships bronze medallist Youssef Rafrafi.

Angola’s 27-year-old Helder Liduema, the current Luanda Province champion with a record of 26 wins and 10 losses in amateur boxing, will battle it out with Tanzania’s Lucas Mwajobaga at light-welterweight.

Female bouts will last five rounds and six rounds for male boxers.

Here’s the 10-bout card:

 *48 kg women:* Waffa Hafsi (Tunisia) vs Andriamiarisoa Miora Tina Karene (Madagascar)

 *52 kg women:* Rahma Nahari (Tunisia) vs Nyembo Gisele (DRC)

 *57 kg women:* Amal Mathloufi (Tunisia) vs Betist Josefien Angel (Sierra Leone)

 *60 kg men:* Ngollo Ngassay Cheril Etienne ( Congo) vs Mohamed Ben Mansour (Tunisia)

 *63.5 kg:* Lucas Mwajobaga (Tanzania) vs

Liduema Elder (Angola)

 *71 kg:* Hamza Wassim (Algeria) vs De Souza Kokou Vinyo (Togo)

 *75 kg:* Dawku Asim Salih Amhimmid (Libya) vs David Tshama (DRC)

 *75 kg:* Ojok Alfred (Uganda) vs Al Azzabi Abdlmomn Issa Abdallah (Libya)

 *80 kg:* Youssef Rafrafi ( Tunisia) vs Ngon a Ngon Brandone (Cameroon)

 *86 kg:* Pita Kabeji Peter (DRC) vs Riahi Mohamed (Tunisia)