DUNCAN Village fighter Simpiwe Vetyeka caused a major boxing upset in Indonesia when he knocked out that country’s hero Daud Yordan in the 12th round to capture the IBO featherweight crown at the weekend.
Coming in as the underdog in a tournament staged at the Bung Karno Stadium filled by close to 80000 Indonesians, Vetyeka stunned the pro-Yordan crowd when he floored the local hero twice in the last round before forcing the referee to stop the slaughter much to the astonishment of the international boxing fraternity.
“ Vetyeka shocks Indonesia,” cried several headlines in international boxing publications.
Vetyeka, a talented yet eccentric fighter, was viewed as being “like a lamb to the slaughter” against Yordan whose two losses in 33 fights were in world title challenges against compatriot Chris John and Celestino Caballero.
While both previous losses were on points, he could not withstand the power of “V12” who poured it on in the last round after being behind on the judges cards.
At the time of the stoppage, Vetyeka was behind by 108-101, and 107-102, on two of the judges scorecards. But, seemingly aware that he needed a knockout to win , he emptied the bucket in the 12th round to dramatically lift the second world title of his career following his brief reign IBO bantamweight champion.
While his talent cannot be disputed, Vetyeka’s antics such as stable-hopping had adversely affected his career and at 32 years old he was considered a spent force and a wasted talent.
His loss to unheralded Klaas Mboyane two fights ago did not help matters either.
However, aware that his international career would be over if he lost to Yordan, Vetyeka summoned all his reserves and talent to vault himself back to big money fights.
His trainer Nick Durandt, who had insisted that his charge had the beating of Yordan, said in a message that he felt vindicated with the victory.
“I told everyone that I would not have taken the fight if I did not believe Vetyeka would win,” said Durandt.
The fight was an undercard to John’s WBA featherweight title defence against Japanese Satoshi Hosono, which ended premature when John suffered a nasty gash forcing the calling off of the bout in the third round.
It was left to Yordan to appease the packed crowd with a good performance but Vetyeka spoiled the party.
Before the fight Durandt had told the media contingent in Indonesia that Vetyeka would beat Yordan and then return to beat John.
And with Vetyeka’s victory over Yordan a return to Indonesia is highly likely especially as John is running out of opposition.
Durandt and Vetyeka could not be reached for comment as they were on their way back home.
The win is Vetyeka’s biggest in his 27 fights record with just two losses.
Vetyeka real dynamo
Coming in as the underdog in a tournament staged at the Bung Karno Stadium filled by close to 80000 Indonesians, Vetyeka stunned the pro-Yordan crowd when he floored the local hero twice in the last round before forcing the referee to stop the slaughter much to the astonishment of the international boxing fraternity.
“ Vetyeka shocks Indonesia,” cried several headlines in international boxing publications.
Vetyeka, a talented yet eccentric fighter, was viewed as being “like a lamb to the slaughter” against Yordan whose two losses in 33 fights were in world title challenges against compatriot Chris John and Celestino Caballero.
While both previous losses were on points, he could not withstand the power of “V12” who poured it on in the last round after being behind on the judges cards.
At the time of the stoppage, Vetyeka was behind by 108-101, and 107-102, on two of the judges scorecards. But, seemingly aware that he needed a knockout to win , he emptied the bucket in the 12th round to dramatically lift the second world title of his career following his brief reign IBO bantamweight champion.
While his talent cannot be disputed, Vetyeka’s antics such as stable-hopping had adversely affected his career and at 32 years old he was considered a spent force and a wasted talent.
His loss to unheralded Klaas Mboyane two fights ago did not help matters either.
However, aware that his international career would be over if he lost to Yordan, Vetyeka summoned all his reserves and talent to vault himself back to big money fights.
His trainer Nick Durandt, who had insisted that his charge had the beating of Yordan, said in a message that he felt vindicated with the victory.
“I told everyone that I would not have taken the fight if I did not believe Vetyeka would win,” said Durandt.
The fight was an undercard to John’s WBA featherweight title defence against Japanese Satoshi Hosono, which ended premature when John suffered a nasty gash forcing the calling off of the bout in the third round.
It was left to Yordan to appease the packed crowd with a good performance but Vetyeka spoiled the party.
Before the fight Durandt had told the media contingent in Indonesia that Vetyeka would beat Yordan and then return to beat John.
And with Vetyeka’s victory over Yordan a return to Indonesia is highly likely especially as John is running out of opposition.
Durandt and Vetyeka could not be reached for comment as they were on their way back home.
The win is Vetyeka’s biggest in his 27 fights record with just two losses.
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