Amos Abuga
After years of almost there, Zimbabwe’s Monalisa Sibanda clinched the vacant Women’s International Boxing Organisation (WIBA) title after defeating Joyce Awino on unanimous points decision in a thrilling 10-round fight staged at the Nairobi Charter Hall on Saturday night
She scored 93-97,95-93 and 94-96 for the title in a fight dubbed “the final come down event” sanctioned by the Kenya Professional Boxing Commission (KPBC).
Everlyn Odero had defeated Monalisa on unanimous points decision scoring 100-90, 99-97 and 100-90 to win the vacant World Super lightweight title last year in Nairobi.
Sibanda said after the match “After 25 years of being a stepping stone in the sport, I feel delighted with the win. The officiating was superb, I have no complains.
“I thank God for answering my prayers. I have been waiting for this opportunity for years. I salute Osaga Promotions under promoter Caleb Kuya for organising this historic and memorable event. I deserved to win and everybody saw the belt was going to Zimbabwe “said Sibanda.
Mombasa-based Awino attributed her loss to lack of a sponsor and bad luck. ‘My opponent had a sponsor (Chicken Inn Restaurant) who took care of her preparations and accommodation. Nevertheless, I’m demanding a re-match here in Nairobi. She is a fighter but not a boxer. I didn’t see anything good with her. I have fought with better Kenya boxers than Sibanda.I controlled most of the rounds; I was scoring in all rounds. I can say I was robbed of my belt “ said disappointed Awino.
In other results, Bosnia-born Sladan Janjanin beat her Tanzanian opponent Paulo Kamata in a six-round Super middleweight. The bout looked a balanced affair with the Tanzanian showing his fighting spirit in the last two rounds with the Bosnian looking dead and buried.
