Namibia’s Jonas Junias advanced to the semi-final stage of the African Boxing Championships (AFBC) in Brazzaville, Congo.
The Rio 2016 Olympian was in fine form in the men’s light-welterweight event, securing a unanimous points victory over Uganda’s Musa Swogi.
Junias, a bronze medalist at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, will face the challenge of the Republic of the Congo’s Malonga Dival for a place in the final.
The second semi-final will feature Egypt’s Eslam Ahmed Aly Mohamed, with the top seed having edged through his last eight tie.
Mohamed earned a 3-2 split decision victory against Algeria’s Nasreddine Bensaid.
The Egyptian is now set to take on Mulumba Mbaya, after the Democratic Republic of Congo fighter stopped Kenya’s Victor Otieno Ater Nyadera.
Hosam Hussein Bakr Abdin, another Egyptian top seed, continued to justify his billing as the favourite in the men’s middleweight event.
He was given a scare in his fight with Zambia’s Benny Sichuundu Muziyo, but advanced to the last four via a 3-2 split decision verdict.
The Egyptian now faces Kenya’s John Mzioka Kyalo for a place in the gold medal contest.
Kyalo was a 3-1 split decision winner over the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Glory Carlos L’Muala in his quarter-final.
The second semi-final will see Seyi Ntsengue Dieudonné Wilfried of Cameroon face the Republic of the Congo’s Mpi Anauel Ngamissengue.
Wilfried stopped Seychelles Desire Nelson Molle in his quarter-final bout, while Ngamissengue earned a unanimous point victory over Mauritius’ Jean-Luc David Rosalba.
Action will continue in Brazzaville tomorrow.
The tournament was initially due to begin on May 27, but the dates were changed to ensure that the event “met the high standards demanded from such a prestigious competition.”
It is the sole African qualifying event for the 2017 World Championships in Hamburg and will now finish on June 25.
