Boxing History In Tanzania: Two UBO World Champions Crowned!

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February 1, 2020 / BY UBO PRESS OFFICER

The weather didn't deter the many enthusiastic fans from having a party at ringside, as they witnessed townsmen Salimu Jengo and Mchanja Bakari capture Universal Boxing Organization™ (UBO) world titles in impressive fashion.

In the main event of the Mwazoa Promotions card, Salimu Jengo (Pictured) went to war with Thailand´s Suriya Tatakhun for the vacant UBO World Lightweight title, in a very high-paced fight where both boxers were happy to trade punches.
 

After going back and forth for six grueling rounds, 29-year-old Jengo, now 14-4 (9), eventually hurt Tatakhun (61-6, 41 KOs), and knocked him down in the seventh with a hard and well-placed left hook to the chin.

A clearly hurt Tatakhun, who earlier in his career went the distance with Indonesian icon Chris John and future Hall-of-Famer Vasiliy Lomachenko in WBA and WBO world title-challenges, stayed on his knees and was counted out by referee Anthony Ruta.

The co-feature saw Tanga´s hard-punching Mchanja Bakari, now 10-2 (8), stop usually tough compatriot Sunday Kiwale, 14-10-5 (7), in the sixth round of another excellent encounter to lift the vacant UBO World Light Flyweight title.

The two fought on even terms for much of the bout, but when Mchanja connected with a crunching right hand in round six Kiwale went down. He surprisingly beat the count, but didn't respond when asked if he could continue so the fight was waved off.

It was a glorious night for professional boxing in Tanzania, and, despite the unfortunate weather, thousands of wet, but happy, fans went home singing and dancing in the streets of Tanga.