Kudakwache Nkhakamila Banda is the new national super welterweight champion after beating Chikondi Makawa on Sunday evening at M1 Centrepoint in Lilongwe.
The win takes Kudakwache straight victories to 12 since turning professional in 2015.
However, he struggled in the first two rounds and sustained a cut as early as the first round after receiving uppercuts from Makawa.
Kudakwache later recovered and started dominating from the third round; he pinned Makawa to the ropes with some aggressive punches.
Makawa made a surprise comeback in the eighth round— scoring points with some solid punches and hooks that forced referee Leonard Metazama to stop the fight following heavy bleeding on Kudakwache’s left eye.
Despite the injury Kudakwache managed to hold on and win the fight as all the judges ruled in his favour in this thrilling 12-round contest.
“I knew I will win. It’s unfortunate it had to be decided by the judges. I had the opportunity to knock him out. I have to put it on record that the cut on my eye was as a result of head-butting and not a punch, “ said Kudakwache who is yet to lose in his professional career.
Makawa accused the judges of being biased towards his opponent as he said: “I believe my performance was much better than my opponent. Anyway congratulations to Kudakwache.”
His sponsor Craig Rousseau of No Pain No Gain Boxing Promotion has since demanded a rematch saying the best result from the match last weekend could have been a draw.
Kudakwache’s manager Michael Chimaliza, director at New Dawn admitted that Makawa was a good opponent but maintained that his boxer deserved to win.
