Yet another boxing tournament came and went leaving mixed feelings about its organisation and the performances of the fighters in the ring.Sijuta Promotions delivered a tournament to remember and the SuperSport crew was beaming from ear to ear if the pay channel’s communication manager Clinton van der Berg is to be believed.
While Van der Berg was most blown away by the pages on this Boxing Mecca he was equally delighted by the delivery in the ring by the boxers.
BM always does its critical analysis to offer suggestions and praises where they are due, as well as naming and shaming where necessary.
Sijuta Promotions
SP delivered a good show with organisation inch-perfect.
The confirmation was the full house the tournament drew despite being topped by a boxer in Mzuvukile Magwaca whose name does not really resonate with local boxing fans. Magwaca originally hails from Duncan Village but his boxing is largely in Cape Town where he has been fighting.
And the fact he was matched against a Mexican boxer did not discourage fans from coming in their numbers to the show.
Thumbs up SP!
MFUNDO GWAYANA v LUZUKO SIYO
This bout lived up to expectations of delivering fireworks.
Gwayana, obviously aware of Siyo’s struggle to make the weight before the fight, started well, scoring with jabs and body punches.
Siyo sat on the ropes and relied on counter-punching but there was no doubt he was steadily falling behind on points.
One observer remarked: “The moment Siyo starts to fight back Gwayana will go.”
And indeed when Siyo returned the fire Gwayana could not take it and resorted to holding.
The contrasting styles of the two boxers, with Gwayana boxing from his southpaw stance, at times rendered the bout clumsy, including some below the belt punches.
But referee Lulama Mtya, who has been dominating these pages for the wrong reasons, proved how capable he can be as he constantly reminded the boxers of the rules.
The result was an epic battle which ended when Siyo rocked Gwayana with a wicked right to put him flat out as the towel came flying in.
As the saying goes, it takes two to tango but in boxing it needs three.
RICARDO HENEKE v LUVUYO MPHUTHI
Considering that these youngsters were making their professional debut, the action they dished out underlines their bright future in boxing.
Heneke took a hiding in the first round, even getting dropped, but incredibly he willed himself back into the fight in the following round after taking expert advise from legendary Vuyani Bungu and his brother, Dudu.
The umlungu rocked Mphuthi in a stunning turn of events and they continued to trade blows throughout their four rounds. It was a bout which should have ended even but the punishment Heneke’s received in the first round was probably what prompted the judges to award the outcome to Mphuthi.
But win or lose, Heneke acquitted himself well.
SIPHIWE LUSIZI v BONGANI NGCETSHE
This was the most disappointing bout of the night as Ngcetshe was so scared of his more illustrious foe he seemed to be considering leaping off the ropes and running for dear life.
The size difference between the two was also so glaring it was no surprise when Lusizi’s liver shot ended the fight when it was just a minute old. The most wicked punch Lusizi threw was in the air celebrating the win and underlining his easy night.
SIYABONGA SIYO v LITO DANTE
What can be said about this bout besides highlighting Siyo’s gutsy performance?
He was assailed by challenges including a stomach ailment and slipping on a wet spot in the ring, almost breaking his leg.
THE JUDGES
For a change there was no controversy by the officials this time around even though their scoring in the Sithembiso Faye and Lindile Tshemese was all over the place.
Mtya had Tshemese winning by 98-95 while Simpiwe Mbini saw Faye winning by 97-94.
Matakane had the two fighters dead even at 96-96 and the difference in opinions by the fans underlined a confusing bout.
THE LOW BLOW
SP boss Andile Sidinile denied this after the fight but the slippery ring just in front of one of the judges nearly proved tragic especially to Siyo who limped alarmingly with his bout against Filipino Dante nearly being called off.
Had Siyo not recovered the outcome would have been a technical knockout loss by Siyo even though he was hindered from continuing by an injury.
Magwaca also slipped on the very same spot against Mexican Jose Gonzalez but fortunately he did not seem to to get hurt.
“There was nothing wrong in that area of the ring,” Sidinile argued after the fight.
Ring of fire on fight night
While Van der Berg was most blown away by the pages on this Boxing Mecca he was equally delighted by the delivery in the ring by the boxers.
BM always does its critical analysis to offer suggestions and praises where they are due, as well as naming and shaming where necessary.
Sijuta Promotions
SP delivered a good show with organisation inch-perfect.
The confirmation was the full house the tournament drew despite being topped by a boxer in Mzuvukile Magwaca whose name does not really resonate with local boxing fans. Magwaca originally hails from Duncan Village but his boxing is largely in Cape Town where he has been fighting.
And the fact he was matched against a Mexican boxer did not discourage fans from coming in their numbers to the show.
Thumbs up SP!
MFUNDO GWAYANA v LUZUKO SIYO
This bout lived up to expectations of delivering fireworks.
Gwayana, obviously aware of Siyo’s struggle to make the weight before the fight, started well, scoring with jabs and body punches.
Siyo sat on the ropes and relied on counter-punching but there was no doubt he was steadily falling behind on points.
One observer remarked: “The moment Siyo starts to fight back Gwayana will go.”
And indeed when Siyo returned the fire Gwayana could not take it and resorted to holding.
The contrasting styles of the two boxers, with Gwayana boxing from his southpaw stance, at times rendered the bout clumsy, including some below the belt punches.
But referee Lulama Mtya, who has been dominating these pages for the wrong reasons, proved how capable he can be as he constantly reminded the boxers of the rules.
The result was an epic battle which ended when Siyo rocked Gwayana with a wicked right to put him flat out as the towel came flying in.
As the saying goes, it takes two to tango but in boxing it needs three.
RICARDO HENEKE v LUVUYO MPHUTHI
Considering that these youngsters were making their professional debut, the action they dished out underlines their bright future in boxing.
Heneke took a hiding in the first round, even getting dropped, but incredibly he willed himself back into the fight in the following round after taking expert advise from legendary Vuyani Bungu and his brother, Dudu.
The umlungu rocked Mphuthi in a stunning turn of events and they continued to trade blows throughout their four rounds. It was a bout which should have ended even but the punishment Heneke’s received in the first round was probably what prompted the judges to award the outcome to Mphuthi.
But win or lose, Heneke acquitted himself well.
SIPHIWE LUSIZI v BONGANI NGCETSHE
This was the most disappointing bout of the night as Ngcetshe was so scared of his more illustrious foe he seemed to be considering leaping off the ropes and running for dear life.
The size difference between the two was also so glaring it was no surprise when Lusizi’s liver shot ended the fight when it was just a minute old. The most wicked punch Lusizi threw was in the air celebrating the win and underlining his easy night.
SIYABONGA SIYO v LITO DANTE
What can be said about this bout besides highlighting Siyo’s gutsy performance?
He was assailed by challenges including a stomach ailment and slipping on a wet spot in the ring, almost breaking his leg.
THE JUDGES
For a change there was no controversy by the officials this time around even though their scoring in the Sithembiso Faye and Lindile Tshemese was all over the place.
Mtya had Tshemese winning by 98-95 while Simpiwe Mbini saw Faye winning by 97-94.
Matakane had the two fighters dead even at 96-96 and the difference in opinions by the fans underlined a confusing bout.
THE LOW BLOW
SP boss Andile Sidinile denied this after the fight but the slippery ring just in front of one of the judges nearly proved tragic especially to Siyo who limped alarmingly with his bout against Filipino Dante nearly being called off.
Had Siyo not recovered the outcome would have been a technical knockout loss by Siyo even though he was hindered from continuing by an injury.
Magwaca also slipped on the very same spot against Mexican Jose Gonzalez but fortunately he did not seem to to get hurt.
“There was nothing wrong in that area of the ring,” Sidinile argued after the fight.
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