In Nis, Serbia
The southern Serbia city of Nis (pronounced as ‘Nish’) – host of the 14th IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships - is rich in history, most famously as one of Europe’s oldest cities and the birthplace of Emperor Constantine the Great.
Its strategic location right between the East and West of Europe made it a strategic base for Emperor Constantine, and other rulers, to call the shots in this city that traces its rich history way back to the third century.
It was Emperor Constantine – who reigned between July 25, 306, and May 22, 337 - that transformed Nis into an important trading centre, with the city a popular destination for lovers of history who sample some of its rich archaeological sites that include ancient Roman villas and remains of Christian churches from the fourth century.
Constantine the Great is credited with being the first emperor to embrace Christianity curating the “Edict of Milan” in 313 that basically gave Christianity legal status in Rome.
That a global boxing championship has been organised in Nis this week has been symbolic in gathering fighters from across the world – 239 boxers from 51 nations, with Kenya fielding eight – to fight for the close to Sh370 million in prize money presented by the International Boxing Association (IBA).
But African boxers, including Kenya’s eight-strong “Hit Squad”, are yet to emulate Constantine the Great and make a global impression here, Kenya’s Emily Juma and Cynthia Mwai the latest casualties Tuesday night in this ages-old city.
The draw at the Cair Sports Centre had favoured Kenya with flyweight Lencer Akinyi and featherweight Pauline Chege awarded walkovers in their Round of 32 fixtures against Mathiba Thandolwethu of South Africa and Montenegro’s Bojana Gojkovic, respectively, on Monday.
Kenya’s skipper, light heavyweight Elizabeth Andiego, is ranked top here and was handed a bye to Thursday’s quarter-finals where she will fight the winner of the bout between Wang Xiaomeng (China) and Gulsaya Yerzhan (Kazakhstan) for a place into the money brackets.
Bantamweight Amina Martha was also seeded at number three and was up against Russian military woman Karina Tazabekova in yesterday’s late action.
In the early action Wednesday, lightweight Juma faced home girl Miroslava Jedinakova but fell victim to the Serbian’s reach and quick reactions, falling on a unanimous points decision.
“It was my first outing and I’ve learnt a few things and I’ll be looking to upgrade my fighting. I’ll go back to the drawing board and train harder on increasing my punches, speedwork and aggressiveness,” Juma reacted.
“She had a problem responding to the Serbian’s height and range. She’s an orthodox fighter and Juma’s shorter reach was to her disadvantage – the Serbian used her reach and experience very well to her advantage,” coach Musa analysed the bout.
In light welterweight division last night, Mwai faced Mexico’s Miriam Hernandez Gonzalez in a bout that didn’t really go the way Mwai had hoped for, the referee stopping the contest in the second round in favour of the Mexican, much to the chagrin of the Kenyan corner.
“He shouldn’t have stopped the fight,” Kenyan tactician David Munuhe fumed as head coach Benjamin Musa walked into the changing room consoling a distraught Mwai.
“Our fighter was just getting her momentum and was strong, and not in any danger at all! Why did the referee have to stop this fight?,” fumed Munuhe who is also the Secretary General of the Boxing Federation of Kenya.
Elsewhere, there was no luck for Africa as Stela Roxana Hamza of Romania stopped Agnes Kwashi of Zimbabwe in the second round of their bantamweight fight as the few fighters from the continent who made the long trip to Nis continued to struggle.
Visa complications had already seen many African nations, including Tanzania and South Africa, fail to arrive for the week-long competition.
But there was a bright spark for the continent yesterday, however, when Sierra Leone’s Netherlands-based Betist Josefien won her lightweight fight against Kazakhstan’s pre-bout favourite Sorokina Anna.
Josefien holds dual Dutch and Sierra Leonean citizenship, is based in Edenderry, Ireland, and is a European under-22 champion.
