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UBO Inter-Continental Bantamweight Champion Mbwana Matumla retained his title Sunday night at the PTA Hall in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania winning a unanimous decision over late substitute Gabriel Ochieng from Kenya after a thrilling fight.
Former IBO World Champion Matumla (20-6, 11 KOs) got off to a good start, as Ochieng (7-3-2, 1 KO) was very cautious and retreating in the first round. A right hand made the challenger take a knee for an eight-count, but he got up and came out for round two looking fresh and determined.
In the second things got lively as the two boxers went toe-to-toe, and many of the following rounds were hard to score. In the eleventh, a right-left combination send Ochieng down again, and he barely made it through the round.
But In round twelve the challenger, who took the fight on just a few days notice, again looked like a new man, and he put on an amazing finish, knowing he likely had to stop Matumla to win the title.
Matumla managed to fend him off, and it turned out to be too late for the Kenyan. The three judges had Matumla winning by scores of 114-112 (Hassan Mwingira), 116-113 (Jalus Ligongo) and 117-112 (Billy Kiremi). Referee was Anthony Ruta.
