BOXER THABISO DIVISION ‘MIX-UP’ EXPLAINED

MBABANE – Boxer Thabiso Dlamini fought in a higher division last night in the ongoing 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth games.

The 28-year-old boxer was expected to fight in a higher division instead of the  usual Under-67kg The Matsapha Boxing Cub member was due to play in the Under-67 (welterweight) but he was due to face Great Britain’s Wendell Stanley last night in the light middleweight (over 76kg-71kg). There were fears the boxer would not perform to his level best because he would be fighting against someone who was in a higher division. Earlier reports had suggested that the mix-up was caused by the late arrival of the Eswatini boxing technical team in one of the meetings in Birmingham, but such allegations were refuted by the country’s delegation in the United Kingdom.

“He stands no chance as he will now be playing in a bigger division,” said the source. The team Manager Nhlanhla Maphanga said the best person to comment was Chef De Mission Zakhele Dlamini. The latter said the change of the division had nothing to do with a missed meeting. “I do not know of any boxing meeting that was not honoured. All technical meetings have been attended and that is where boxers also present their fighting gear.

Fighting

“This morning (yesterday) before 7am, we went for his weight as all boxers fighting today are expected to do so,” Dlamini said. Dlamini clarified that Thabiso was last night fighting in the top 16 because he got a bye in the top 32 after attendance of the technical meeting. “Him (Thabiso) fighting in the light middleweight (67kg-71kg) was based on International Boxing Association’s records. According to their records Thabiso is ranked number 20 in the world based on 69kg, thus he falls under the 67kg-71kg category. The boxer himself confirmed that he was ranked based on 69kg,” stressed Dlamini.

Meanwhile, according to experts, in many instances, the extra weight gives a fighter a substantial edge over his opponent. In one incident where a boxer played in the wrong division, is when one international boxer in Arturo Gatti gained 19 pounds after the weigh-in for his match with Joey Gamache. Gatti blasted Gamache in the second round, sending him to the hospital and ending his career. On the other hand, Oscar De La Hoya depleted himself to make weight for his fight with Manny Pacquiao, his rehydration effort failed. He gained only two pounds and was hammered into a humiliating defeat. Meanwhile, boxer Zweli Dlamini is already out of the games. He was eliminated by a UK boxer in the first round last Saturday.

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