Two of the top Tunisian boxers, flyweight Ala Eddine Zidi (pictured in his corner) and female bantamweight Islem Ferchichi, have confirmed their participation in the highly anticipated Africa Elite Men’s and Women’s Boxing Championships scheduled for Kinshasa from October 14-27.
The tournament will coincide with the celebrations to mark the 50th Anniversary of the famous Rumble in the Jungle world heavyweight title fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman on October 30, 1974, in Kinshasa.
Tunisia’s national coach Montassar Ghanouni said Zidi and Ferchichi will be among the boxers to represent Tunisia in Africa’s premier boxing tournament.
“I’m still finalising my team, I intend to send about ten boxers in the Africa Championships, Zidi and Ferchichi will definitely be there because this is a very important tournament for Africa we can’t miss it,” Ghanouni told me in a telephone interview from Tunisia’s capital city, Tunis on Wednesday, September 11.
Ferchichi and Zidi took part in the final world Olympics qualifiers in Thailand this year with Ferchichi losing 3-2 to Ukraine’s Anastasila Kovalchuk and Zidi was stopped by Armenia’s Batesham Harutyunan in the third round.
Zidi is well remembered for his explosive bout against Zambia’s African Games flyweight champion Patrick “Baddo” Chinyemba in last year’s finals of the Africa Olympic qualifiers in Dakar. Zidi was KO’d in the third round and stretchered out of the ring with double arm fracture.
A rematch between Zidi and Chinyemba in Kinshasa will set alight the eagerly awaited tournament to be spiced by the throbbing rhumba lyrics of some of DRC’s top musicians such as Ferre Gola of Mua Mbuyi fame and the famous band leader of Zaiko Langa Langa, Nyoka Longo Nkolomboka.
“It’s not just boxing, it’s a big party in Kinshasa during which we will also showcase our world famous musicians, it will be an enjoyable dancing and boxing tournament to remember,” said General Ferdinand Ilunga Luyoyo, the powerful and influential President of the DR Congo Boxing Federation.
“I’m appealing to all our member countries not to miss this exciting show, we will accord them our warm hospitality, we in DR Congo love visitors we enjoy together.”
Tunisia finished 11th overall in last year’s Africa Elite Championships in Yaounde, Cameroon with one silver and two bronze medals.
Featherweight Khouloud Hlimi, a two-time Olympian, won silver after losing to DR Congo’s celebrated Marcelat Sakobi aka Mwasi Kitoko.
Lightweight Saiefeddine Ayari and minimumweight Hafsi Wala won the two bronze medals. Wala was eliminated in the semi-finals by Algeria’s Fatiha Mansouri while Ayari lost to the eventual gold medallist Sanele Sogcwayi of South Africa who beat Uganda’s Wasswa Ssali 5-0 in the finals with Mansouri losing to Morocco’s Yasmine Mouttaki.
Credit: AFBC Communications
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