Kinshasa, May 10th, 2023 (CPA) – The Congolese boxer, Pita Kabeji was beaten on points by the Jordanian pugilist, Lashaish Hussein, on Tuesday, in the 8th finals of the world championship of the noble art, in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, in the category of the Middle-heavy (-80 Kg), the CPA learned on the same day from the communication cell of the Congolese Federation of Boxing (FCB).
« The only Congolese representative who remained in the race for the quarter-finals, Pita Kabeji totally missed his entry in the first two rounds due to lack of concentration, which prevented him from winning this fight eagerly awaited by the Congolese community, despite his reply in the third and last round, » the source said.
With this defeat, the DRC is eliminated from the world championship without having snatched any medal. « The Congolese boxers will try to do better in their next participation in the African championship of the specialty, scheduled from 15 to 25 June next, in the multipurpose hall of Yaounde, Cameroon, » said the source who was visibly disappointed by the poor result of the Congolese.
It is worth noting that Pita Kabeji has made an appreciable journey in this global competition, by beating the Trinidadian pugilist, Nickell Joseph by referee’s stoppage, in the 1st round, in the 16th final, last Friday.
No medal for the DRC in this competition
« Of the 7 DRC boxing Leopards who participated in this world championship, none of them managed to win even one medal, » said the source.
The course of the Congolese boxers was unsatisfactory, because the objective pursued in this world competition was that of snatching a gold medal for the first time, in order to take up the challenge for martial arts in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
It should be recalled that the 7 Leopards fought 10 fights in total, including 3 victories and 7 defeats. Only Fiston Mbaya Mulumba won two victories on points against Imankuliyev of Turkmenistan and the Bulgarian, Dzhurov, respectively in the 32nd and 16th finals. The other victory was that of Pita Kabeji against the Trinidadian, Nickell Joseph, in the 16th final.
Toussaint Lofalanga promises gold medals at the African championship in Yaoundé
« Despite this underperformance of Congolese boxers in this international competition, I promise you that our boxers will win gold medals and others at the next African championship of the noble art, which will take place from June 15th to 25th, 2023, in Yaoundé, Cameroon, « said the National Technical Director (DTN) of the FCB, Toussaint Lofalanga Tuesday to the CPA, after the fight Pita Kabeji.
He added: « It is for the first time that Congolese boxers can win 3 fights in a world championship, it is an advantage for us, because it is a high dimension competition that allowed us to acquire experience, so to improve well in the next competitions, » before concluding:
« We are going to leave the place of the competition during this week, to go to Cameroon, in order to take our part in the preparation of this appointment which awaits us, in June, next.
As a reminder, after their participation in the world championship, in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, the Leopards boxing are again expected to take part in the African championship from 15 to 25 June, in Yaounde, Cameroon. ACP/
