It was an outstanding weekend for boxing in the region when all its top fighters won career-defining bouts.
The region’s boxers were in action in East London, Pretoria and the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
In Pretoria, Xolisani Nomeva Ndongeni and Xolisani Mcotheli were vying for big titles on Friday night, while in East London, veteran Simpiwe Vetyeka and Yanga Sigqibo were also contesting national and continental titles.
At the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, Stutterheim-born Sinethemba Blom was vying for the quarterfinal berth against Guyana’s Colin Lewis.
Ndongeni claimed a second world title when he beat Namibian Abraham Ndauendapo for the WBF lightweight crown.
He had already won the IBO title which he later relinquished.
In the same show, Mcotheli of Mthatha – now based in Mdantsane – produced his best performance to date when he stopped Warren Joubert in six rounds to register the first defence of his SA junior welterweight title.
But it was at the Orient Theatre in East London where the explosive action unfolded.
The stage was set for Mdantsane veteran Vetyeka to either swim or sink when he jumped two divisions to campaign in the lightweight division with the WBO Africa crown at stake.
Vetyeka took on reigning SA champion Thompson Mokwana in a bout that was to determine whether Vetyeka still had it at the age of 37.
Vetyeka had lost a surprising bout against upstart Lerato Dlamini last October, forcing him to leave the featherweight division.
And it proved to be a master stroke as he seemed to be comfortable in the heavier division.
After a feel-out round dominated by jabs, Vetyeka pulled through with sickening body blows to take control.
Besides his defiance of Father Time, Vetyeka was also keenly watched to see if he would be able to carry his power to the lightweight.
And he answered those questions in emphatic fashion.
The V12 appeared to punch harder in this division as his blows carried venom which forced Mokwana to retreat.
After a good seventh round, Vetyeka came out for the eighth determined to end matters.
A wicked three-punch salvo exploded on Mokwana but it was a right which proved to be the devastating blow as it left the visitor on his knees for the full count.
The win was an important one for Vetyeka as it defied all the talk of his fighting days being over.
His promoter from Xaba Promotions who also organised the show, Ayanda Matiti, said the skilful boxer would be back in July, possibly fighting for a world title.
“It will either be an interim or a full title, but a boxer like Vetyela can never be written off. He matures with age like good wine,” Matiti said.
In the same show, Duncan Village’s newest champion, Sigqibo, passed his biggest test when he warded off the challenge of Sabelo Ngebiyane to hang onto his SA junior bantamweight title.
Ngebiyane set the pace and pushed Sigqibo around the ring, but the champion was able to withstand the pressure with point-scoring blows.
Other results:Mziwoxolo Ndwayana KO 4 Ntuthuko Memela (welter); Uyanda Nogogo W 8 Onke Duku (welter); Marios Matamba TKO 7 Gift Bholo (jnr welter); Sabelo Nkosi TKO 3 Sesethu Menziwa (jnr fly).
lLast night Duncan Village star Azinga Fuzile defended his IBF Intercontinental featherweight title against Namibian Immanuel Andeleki, winning on a first-round knockout at the Orient Theatre.
Vetyeka masterstroke
The region’s boxers were in action in East London, Pretoria and the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
In Pretoria, Xolisani Nomeva Ndongeni and Xolisani Mcotheli were vying for big titles on Friday night, while in East London, veteran Simpiwe Vetyeka and Yanga Sigqibo were also contesting national and continental titles.
At the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, Stutterheim-born Sinethemba Blom was vying for the quarterfinal berth against Guyana’s Colin Lewis.
Ndongeni claimed a second world title when he beat Namibian Abraham Ndauendapo for the WBF lightweight crown.
He had already won the IBO title which he later relinquished.
In the same show, Mcotheli of Mthatha – now based in Mdantsane – produced his best performance to date when he stopped Warren Joubert in six rounds to register the first defence of his SA junior welterweight title.
But it was at the Orient Theatre in East London where the explosive action unfolded.
The stage was set for Mdantsane veteran Vetyeka to either swim or sink when he jumped two divisions to campaign in the lightweight division with the WBO Africa crown at stake.
Vetyeka took on reigning SA champion Thompson Mokwana in a bout that was to determine whether Vetyeka still had it at the age of 37.
Vetyeka had lost a surprising bout against upstart Lerato Dlamini last October, forcing him to leave the featherweight division.
And it proved to be a master stroke as he seemed to be comfortable in the heavier division.
After a feel-out round dominated by jabs, Vetyeka pulled through with sickening body blows to take control.
Besides his defiance of Father Time, Vetyeka was also keenly watched to see if he would be able to carry his power to the lightweight.
And he answered those questions in emphatic fashion.
The V12 appeared to punch harder in this division as his blows carried venom which forced Mokwana to retreat.
After a good seventh round, Vetyeka came out for the eighth determined to end matters.
A wicked three-punch salvo exploded on Mokwana but it was a right which proved to be the devastating blow as it left the visitor on his knees for the full count.
The win was an important one for Vetyeka as it defied all the talk of his fighting days being over.
His promoter from Xaba Promotions who also organised the show, Ayanda Matiti, said the skilful boxer would be back in July, possibly fighting for a world title.
“It will either be an interim or a full title, but a boxer like Vetyela can never be written off. He matures with age like good wine,” Matiti said.
In the same show, Duncan Village’s newest champion, Sigqibo, passed his biggest test when he warded off the challenge of Sabelo Ngebiyane to hang onto his SA junior bantamweight title.
Ngebiyane set the pace and pushed Sigqibo around the ring, but the champion was able to withstand the pressure with point-scoring blows.
Other results:Mziwoxolo Ndwayana KO 4 Ntuthuko Memela (welter); Uyanda Nogogo W 8 Onke Duku (welter); Marios Matamba TKO 7 Gift Bholo (jnr welter); Sabelo Nkosi TKO 3 Sesethu Menziwa (jnr fly).
lLast night Duncan Village star Azinga Fuzile defended his IBF Intercontinental featherweight title against Namibian Immanuel Andeleki, winning on a first-round knockout at the Orient Theatre.
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