A POWER failure before the start of the final round of his World Boxing Association Pan African junior lightweight title clash against Takalani Ndlovu could not deter Mzonke Fana from registering one of his best performances at the weekend.
Former world champion Vuyani Bungu was back at his corner after stable-hoping antics saw Fana losing almost all of his bouts since returning to the ring following his infamous world title stripping.
The Qumbu-born fighter rediscovered his best punch – the jab – which literally won him the fight.
However, at 39 years of age, Fana appeared gun shy at times as he waited too long to throw his right hand.
Ndlovu, who competed in the division for the first time after winning International Boxing Federation (IBF) titles in the junior featherweight division, fought in spurts.
This strategy nearly cost him dearly as his punches often strayed below the belt line, causing referee Wally Snowball to deduct a point from him in the seventh round.
The Cape Town-based Fana was clearly the most cheered boxer of the two at the Mdantsane Indoor Centre, giving him confidence as the fight progressed.
Though at times the bout featured more feints than actual fighting – as should be expected when veteran boxers compete against each other – there was a fierce exchange of punches, with the second round seeing the most action, when both fighters wobbled each other.
First, the 35-year-old Ndlovu appeared to be winning the round as he drove Fana on the back foot.
However, as Ndlovu charged forward, he was caught by a big right hand from Fana.
Fana then proceeded to take control of the round as he threw a barrage of punches, many of which only fell on Ndlovu’s gloves.
Ramming away with both hands, Fana left himself open for Ndlovu’s counter-punch, which staggered him and his glove almost hit the canvas.
After such a scare, the pair fought cautiously, but Bungu implored Fana to make use of his vaunted jab.
The former two-times IBF junior lightweight champion obliged, as his left hand swung like a pendulum and kept Ndlovu at bay.
Fana would follow that up with an occasional right to draw loud applause from the audience.
Ndlovu would jump in and go for the body, but Fana met him unflinchingly before darting away behind his stiff jab.
By the championship rounds, Ndlovu’s left eye was swelling badly courtesy of Fana’s jab.
All the judges, including Siya Vabaza, who, bizarrely, doubled as a ring announcer, scored the fight in favour of Fana, who had scores of 116-111, 117-112 and 118-108.
In another bout, Tshifhiwa Munyai forced Phumzile Matyhila to quit in the eighth round of their catchweight non-title clash.
Munyai easily controlled the bout, although Matyhila had his moments as well.
As the rounds mounted, Munyai stepped on the gas pedal as he threw big right hands to send Matyhila to a neutral corner on one knee, where he took the count and indicated that he had had enough.
Siviwe Hasheni administered a beatdown on Capetonian Lwandile Gugushe for six rounds before a big left hook sent the visitor to the ropes, where he was counted out in the seventh round. Thereafter, Hasheni was crowned the new SA junior featherweight champion.
In something of a snooze-fest, Balimo Weliya dropped Port Elizabeth challenger Masixole Botile in the 12th round. However, Weliya could not finish off his rival and had to be content to retain his SA super middleweight crown on points.
In a women’s bout, Nozwelethu Mathonsi jumped two divisions, from miniflyweight to flyweight, to claim the vacant SA crown on points against Noxolo Makanavu.
Fana jabs way to junior crown
Former world champion Vuyani Bungu was back at his corner after stable-hoping antics saw Fana losing almost all of his bouts since returning to the ring following his infamous world title stripping.
The Qumbu-born fighter rediscovered his best punch – the jab – which literally won him the fight.
However, at 39 years of age, Fana appeared gun shy at times as he waited too long to throw his right hand.
Ndlovu, who competed in the division for the first time after winning International Boxing Federation (IBF) titles in the junior featherweight division, fought in spurts.
This strategy nearly cost him dearly as his punches often strayed below the belt line, causing referee Wally Snowball to deduct a point from him in the seventh round.
The Cape Town-based Fana was clearly the most cheered boxer of the two at the Mdantsane Indoor Centre, giving him confidence as the fight progressed.
Though at times the bout featured more feints than actual fighting – as should be expected when veteran boxers compete against each other – there was a fierce exchange of punches, with the second round seeing the most action, when both fighters wobbled each other.
First, the 35-year-old Ndlovu appeared to be winning the round as he drove Fana on the back foot.
However, as Ndlovu charged forward, he was caught by a big right hand from Fana.
Fana then proceeded to take control of the round as he threw a barrage of punches, many of which only fell on Ndlovu’s gloves.
Ramming away with both hands, Fana left himself open for Ndlovu’s counter-punch, which staggered him and his glove almost hit the canvas.
After such a scare, the pair fought cautiously, but Bungu implored Fana to make use of his vaunted jab.
The former two-times IBF junior lightweight champion obliged, as his left hand swung like a pendulum and kept Ndlovu at bay.
Fana would follow that up with an occasional right to draw loud applause from the audience.
Ndlovu would jump in and go for the body, but Fana met him unflinchingly before darting away behind his stiff jab.
By the championship rounds, Ndlovu’s left eye was swelling badly courtesy of Fana’s jab.
All the judges, including Siya Vabaza, who, bizarrely, doubled as a ring announcer, scored the fight in favour of Fana, who had scores of 116-111, 117-112 and 118-108.
In another bout, Tshifhiwa Munyai forced Phumzile Matyhila to quit in the eighth round of their catchweight non-title clash.
Munyai easily controlled the bout, although Matyhila had his moments as well.
As the rounds mounted, Munyai stepped on the gas pedal as he threw big right hands to send Matyhila to a neutral corner on one knee, where he took the count and indicated that he had had enough.
Siviwe Hasheni administered a beatdown on Capetonian Lwandile Gugushe for six rounds before a big left hook sent the visitor to the ropes, where he was counted out in the seventh round. Thereafter, Hasheni was crowned the new SA junior featherweight champion.
In something of a snooze-fest, Balimo Weliya dropped Port Elizabeth challenger Masixole Botile in the 12th round. However, Weliya could not finish off his rival and had to be content to retain his SA super middleweight crown on points.
In a women’s bout, Nozwelethu Mathonsi jumped two divisions, from miniflyweight to flyweight, to claim the vacant SA crown on points against Noxolo Makanavu.
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