Posts Tagged ‘Hastings Bwalya’

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ZAMBIAN BOXER ‘STINGS’ ANOTHER AMERICAN

Sunday, June 20th, 2010

By ZAMBIA NEWS FEATURES CORRESPONDENT

Zambia’s welterweight boxing sensation, ‘Stings’ Hastings Bwalya knocked out Matt Ellis of the United States of America in the second round in a non-title contest at Niagara Conference Centre in Niagara Falls, New York State, on Saturday night.

In a dispatch from First Secretary for Press at Zambia’s United Nations Permanent Representative’s office, Moses Walubita, the knockout was the third by the Las Vegas-based Zambian in his professional career (4-0 (3), and came just one month after out-pointing another American Ashantie ‘Volcano’ Hendrickson in New York City, on an undercard on 21 May.

On Satuday night, Bwalya hurt Ellis several times with a straight hand. But the opponent was really tough. The American took the punches and he kept coming. The Zambian just needed to settle down a little bit.

When Bwalya went to his corner, the Manager Ibn Cason told him to relax, use the jab and eyes in order to see exactly what Ellis was open for.

In the second round, Bwalya came out relaxed and started using the jab effectively. He then caught Ellis with three left hooks in a row and hurt him, recalls Cason.

Bwalya took his time. Bwalya came back with lots of accurate punches. The crowd screamed to the referee to stop the fight as Bwalya unleashed too much punishment.

The referee, perhaps heeding the crowd’s screams, stopped the fight – and it was another night of triumph for the Zambian boxing export to the United States of America.

Speaking to Walubita on the phone from Niagara soon the fight, Cason said: “I think Sting is moving very, very well and at this pace, we will see big things from him very soon.”

The manager called on Zambians to keep praying for their golden boy to be the best he can be so that he represents the country in the most honourable fashion.

“I am looking forward to him fighting in July, possibly in Venezuela,” Cason said.

Bwalya’s victory against Ellis showed he had made a very big improvement from the previous fight with ‘Volcano’ in New York where the Zambian boxer showed great speed and athleticism to score a unanimous points decision on the Capitale Punishment bill. (Read related story here)

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BOXER BWALYA STINGS AMERICAN OPPONENT

Saturday, May 22nd, 2010
Zambian boxing star, Hastings “Sting” Bwalya, stung when he scored an impressive unanimous points victory against Ashanti Hendrickson of the United States of America in an action-packed six-rounds supporting bout on the “Capitale Punishment” bill at in New York on Friday night.
According to a press release from Moses Walubita, press secretary at the Zambian Mission to the UN, Bwalya’s sweet triumph sent the Zambian fans celebrating and it brought back memories of yesteryear when the former Commonwealth and All African light-heavyweight champion Lottie “Gunduzani” Mwale, almost conquered the world when he twice made unsuccessful bids for the light-heavyweight title in the United States of America in the 1980s against “home heroes” Mathew Saad  Muhammad and Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, winners of 4th round knockouts.
On Friday night in New York, Bwalya put up a brilliant performance. He became the first Zambian ever to fight in the city. He was indeed the “darling” of the night for Zambia.
Signed by Empire Sports and Entertainment Company, Bwalya was mobbed by fans who had trooped to the venue of the fight. The 24-year-old Mufulira-born boxer was escorted into the hall carrying the Zambian flag made available by the Permanent Mission to the United Nations. A confident Bwalya looked like a king who was about to ascend to the throne even before the formalities are finalised.

Hastings Bwalya

From out of the red corner, Hastings Bwalya (left) moves in. Picture By Moses Walubita.

Among the several people who congratulated Bwalya, was Zambia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Lazarous Kapambwe, who was in the ringside.
“I am back to the ring after staying for eight months without a fight. The problem was, I was trying to knockout him out,” said Bwalya, while Hendrickson said the fight was good but tough.
Describing himself as perfectionist, Bwalya’s trainer Ibn Cason, said: “I saw short sparks of brilliance and short sparks of inexperience. I am satisfied with his performance.”
Flanked by his boxer, Cason went on: “I know on what to work on. It was a good learning experience. Sting has a warrior’s heart and he wants to fight”.
Ambassador Kapambwe said Bwalya has a bright future and the boxer put up a polished performance.
The Zambian boxer fired all cylinders in the first three rounds with good moves. He was relaxed and used the jab more effectively against an equally determined Hendrickson. In latter rounds, Bwalya started punching hard as fans chanted: “Bwalya go! Bwalya go!”, urging him to go for a knockout.
With two knockouts in his professional bag so far, Bwalya relied on skills in order to over the American. In the first round, Bwalya forced him to the ropes, but was  only saved by the bell. Earlier, Hendrickson had landed devastating left which seemed as if the Zambian was headed for trouble.
However, in the third, Bwalya’s left missed Hendrickson in one of the best rounds for the Zambian. The fourth round saw Hendrickson catching Bwalya with a stunning right, but Bwalya retaliated with a right punch. Hendrickson came furiously in the fifth round and had Bwalya to the ropes. With the combatants, showing signs of fatigue, Hendrickson sent Bwalya to the canvas in sixth round, but he quickly recovered.
In the main event, the “big man” Shannon “The Cannon” Briggs, two-time World champion, knocked out fellow American heavyweight Dominic “Diamond” Alexander after 22 seconds of the first round. This was the 43rd knockout by Briggs who has recorded amazing knockouts in the history of boxing.

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BOXER “STING” BWALYA’S DECLARED FIT FOR NEW YORK FIGHT

Friday, May 21st, 2010

By ZAMBIA NEWS FEATURES CORRESPONDENT

US-based Zambian welterweight boxer, Hastings “Stings” Bwalya, was declared fit for Friday’s supporting bout against American Ashanti Hendrickson on the “Capitale Punishment” tournament, in few hours time in New York, United States of America. Both boxers tipped the scales, equally, at 149 pounds during the mock weigh-in held on Thursday night.
In a dispatch from New York, Zambia’s Permanent Mission First Secretary for Press at the United Nations, Moses Walubita said the two combatants pledged to win. “I am ready,” said Bwalya signed by The Empire Sports and Entertainment Company. His opponent said he was geared for the tussle, immediately after shaking hands.

Hastings Bwalya

Zambian welterweight boxer Hastings "Sting" Bwalya (left) seen with opponent Ashanti Hendrickson of the United States of America at Thursday's mock weigh-in New York. Photo by Ibn Cason.

Before the weigh-in former Light-Heavyweight World Champion Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, now a Vice-President for the Empire Sports and Entertainment Company, described the young Bwalya as a future champion.
“Sting is a good fighter. I saw him fight Mayweather (Floyd). He will be the champion,” said 58-year-old Muhammad who knocked out Zambia’s golden boy, Lottie Mwale, in the fourth round in 1980s for the title. Muhammad works out of his gym in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Mwale suffered a similar fourth round knockout against another American Matthew Saad Muhammad in an unsuccessful bid for the crown.
Reflecting on his fight with Mwale, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, described the former Commonwealth and All-African Light-Heavyweight Champion, as the best ever Zambian boxer who he respected.
“I respect him  lot. When I stepped in the ring, that was my house. I went in there and knocked him,” Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, said, because he did not want to give Mwale a chance to win the fight.
“He was real a good competitor,” he said.
The main event for Friday’s bill will match former World Heavyweight Champion Shannon “The Cannon” Briggs of the United States of America against fellow countryman Domingue “Diamond” Alexander in a 10-round bout.

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