Boxer Simwaka beats South African opponent
South Africa-based Malawian boxer Ellen Simwaka on Saturday knocked out her South African opponent Melissa Miller in a bantamweight non-title fight at Klipspruit Sport Centre in Soweto, Gauteng, South Africa.
The bout, held without spectators due to that country’s Covid-19 restrictions, was an undercard during TLB Promotions’ Africa Boxing Union (ABU) welterweight title fight between Thulani Mbenge and Kuvesa Katembo.
Mbenge won through unanimous decision score of 100-91, 98-92 and 98-93 to capture the ABU title.
In the main supporting bout, Khaya Busakwe scored a third round stoppage over Kabelo Bikitsha for the Gauteng lightweight belt.
The bill, which was live on SABC Sports, was Simwaka’s first after the lockdown imposed due to the Covid-19 pandemic in South Africa.
However, it was a second fight between the two after their first in 2017 in vacant World Boxing Federation Intercontinental Bantamweight title fight was declared a draw.
Simwaka, who always argued that he won the bill, said her victory proved her point.
Her win could not also have come at the right time as it will help the 23-year-old single mother recover from Covid-19 economic impact on her.
The boxer, who is trained by Mimo Spirito, has not seen action since her failed attempt at the Commonwealth title in Aberdeen, Scotland, in 2018.
Simwaka thanked her promoter Joyce Kungwane, who sanctioned the fight as a replacement after the bout between Bonita van Jaarsveldt and Raider Muleba was called off.
“I really appreciate what Joyce has done for me. The purse money she is paying me will help me solve some of my problems,” she told The Sowetan.
Miller, from Eldorado Park, is a forgotten SA champion who is trained in Soweto by Lucky Ramagole.
