Zambia Boxing Federation (ZBF) General Secretary has noticed the under20 national team heavyweight boxers need to improve before they can be declared ready to participate in international tournaments to be played later this year.

And Zambia yesterday won four of the six bouts during the Under20 International Boxing tournament that was held in the showgrounds Lusaka. The tournament was only between Zambia and Angola, and only had a male category that saw six boxers from each country exchange punches in rounds of three.

ZBF General Secretary Bright Chomba described the ‘friendly’ tournament as a good one that would determine the progress the under20 boxing national team had made. In an interview with Goal Diggers! Chomba said the boys were in good shape and were going to rip medals in the oncoming international tournaments except for the heavyweights.

“The future for boxing is very bright and I’m positive the boys will win all their international tournaments they will participate in later this year although the heavyweights need to work harder. There are few things that we need to work on with lightweight boxers so it is safe to say the future is bright,” the GS noted.

However, one of the losing Zambian boxers Francis Nundwe rubbished the results and said he was announced a loser in order to please the Angolan eight-man delegation, “It does not make sense to make someone lose a bout he has won just to please the visiting international delegation and I do not train to lose. The judges should have been transparent and honest with the results,” complained Nundwe.

Meanwhile, Angolan boxing federation vice president Wilson Neto said Zambian boxing was more impressive than their (Angolan) own. “This is a great learning experience for my boys and a chance to have a feel of the Zambian boxing atmosphere. Let us keep learning from one another as neighbours,” Neto said.