Namibia’s Jonas Junius the hero after two days of African Olympic Qualification in Cameroon
March 13th, 2016 / IBA
Commonwealth Games silver medallist and All Africa Games runner-up Jonas Junius has emerged as a strong favourite for the light welterweight gold after a brilliant performance on the second day of African Olympic Qualification in Yaoundé.
The 23-year-old Namibian stopped Ghana’s experienced Jessie Lartey in the third round of their bout having dominated the first two to take the score to 20:16, and will now be confident of securing a Rio 2016 quota place.
“I felt strong and confident so I am satisfied with my performance and it was the perfect start for me in Yaoundé. I have got a long reach and a classic southpaw fighter is the perfect opponent for me. I want to make my mark here in Yaoundé so I hope my skills will be recognised in the upcoming bouts,” said Namibia’s Jonas Junius after his bout.
Zambia’s Commonwealth Youth Games bronze medalist Emmanuel Ngoma underlined his potential for an Olympic bantamweight place with a strong showing against Congo’s Nesday Bakana Kombo on Day 2, and Ethiopia’s Doha International Tournament winner Surafel Getachew dominated his match against Ivory Coast’s Yaya Koné to advance to the next round in Yaoundé.
Algeria’s number one lightweight seed and reigning All Africa Games and AFBC African Confederation Champion Reda Benbaziz was pushed all the way in a narrow win over Uganda’s former national champion Sulaiman Segawa, and Tunisia’s Alaa Shili needed all his experience to defeat Morocco’s Hamza Rabii, brother of AIBA World Champion Mohamed Rabii.
Egypt’s Mahmoud Abdelaal was the first to beat a home-nation boxer after overcoming Christian Nembot Tawat at lightweight, and Togo’s light welterweight Dotse Dekpakou defeated Swaziland’s 18 year-old Thabiso Selby Dlamini in the closest battle of the day.
Nigeria’s All Africa Games winner Efe Ajagba is a strong favourite at super heavyweight and powered past Uganda’s Michael Sekabembe, before Algeria’s WSB star Mohamed Grimes edged a tough encounter against Congo’s All Africa Games quarter-finalist Ardi Da Sylva Ndembo.
