Wilfred Seyi Ntsengue of Cameroon secured a place at this year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo with victory over top-seed David Ssemujju of Uganda in the middleweight box-off at the African qualifier in Dakar.
Ntsengue, who has turned professional since competing at Rio 2016, overcame Ssemujju by split decision at the Dakar International Expo Centre.
The Cameroonian booked his Tokyo 2020 berth after being awarded the fight on three of the five judges’ scorecards.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Fiston Mulumba was on the wrong end of a controversial decision as he was beaten by Morocco’s Abdelhaq Nadir in the box-off for the last remaining Olympic spot at lightweight.
According to the Olympic Channel, Nadir prevailed by the narrowest of split decisions as the Moroccan and Mulumba were each given the win by one judge.
The other three all scored it level at 28-28, at least two of which awarded Nadir the bout on countback.
Richarno Colin of Mauritius ousted Namibia’s Jonas Jonas to claim the lightweight gold medal.
Tetteh Sulemanu became the first Ghanaian boxer to qualify for Tokyo 2020 as he defeated Juliano Maquina of Mozambique in the men’s flyweight box-off.
Sulemanu recorded a 4-1 split decision victory to book his ticket to this year’s Games in the Japanese capital.
“It has been a long time since I try to qualify for 2012,” Sulemanu said, according to the Olympic Channel.
“I pray to God so he should help me.
“People have been saying that we [Ghana boxers] cannot qualify and we know that we can qualify and our coaches know these fighters can qualify.
“And I know three others can qualify, I pray to God that they should qualify to come and join me.”
Mohamed Flissi of Algeria showed his experience as he beat exciting 19-year-old Zambian Patrick Chinyemba in the lightweight final.
The tournament, being organized by the International Olympic Committee Boxing Task Force owing to the suspension of the International Boxing Association as the governing body for the sport, is due to continue tomorrow.
–insidethegames.biz
