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Ngqabutho Moyo Sports Reporter
BULAWAYO Boxing Association (BBA) will this afternoon hold their season opener at Manor Hotel, with the sport’s enthusiasts guaranteed of watching at least 20 boxers.There is a possibility of other boxers coming from the Midlands and Gwanda.

The competition will be used as one of the selection events to identify boxers to represent Bulawayo Metropolitan Province at this year’s Zimbabwe National Youth Games to be held in Masvingo in August.

BBA secretary-general Arviane Mathe said they have invited the Midlands and Matabeleland South pugilists to participate in the competition.

Mathe said that the city’s fine crop of young boxers is not only ready for the tournament but to also defend their title as the Youth Games champions.

“We will use the tournament to select a team that will represent the province in the inter-provincil tournament that will be held in Masvingo. The tournament that we’re going to hold at Manor Hotel is open to about 20 local amateur boxers and two boxing teams each from Matabeleland South and the Midlands.

“The young boxers must know that this is one of the most important events we’re conducting to select the team for the inter-provincial tournament which will be used to select a national team and it’s only through participating at these tournaments that one can be identified to represent Bulawayo,” said Mathe.

Boxers from Bulawayo clubs Nketa, Tshaka, Lobengula, and Luveve’s Percy will battle it out to impress in different weight divisions.

Samson Masiyambumbi who represented Zimbabwe at the Youth Championships in Poland in 2013 from Nketa with teammate Shepard Machaya are expected to be in top form while Steven Ndlovu and Andile Ncube will be expected to add to the thrills in today’s tournament.

Lobengula is expected to pin its hopes on young and exciting Cecil Toto who is proving to be too hot to handle in the welterweight division and lost by points to Masiyambumbi last year in March.

Last year’s Zimbabwe National Youth Games medalists Thenjiwe Foloma, Amanda Dube, Nagra Saidi, Cecelia Masikati and Queneth Dube will lead Percy Boxing Club with Bulawayo West’s finest boxer being Shailine Mguni.

Seniors’ boxing matches will be expected to spice up the event just after the youngsters have had their turn in the ring.