WHEN the WBA Pan-African flyweight title clash between Mdantsane’s Makazole Tete and Doctor Ntsele ended at Orient Theatre in East London yesterday, Tete’s younger brother Zolani leapt over the ropes and lifted his sibling shoulder high, happy that he had finally come of age.EVASIVE ACTION: Makazole Tete misses with a left to the head in the WBA Pan-African
flyweight title fight against Doctor Ntsele at the Orient Theatre yesterday,
It was not hard to understand why, as Makazole finally shed off his stamina problems and finished the fight strongly, setting the packed hall into raptures. Dancing and at times mocking his foe, Makazole finished the fight as strongly as he usually starts his fights.
Known for gassing out even in a six-rounder, Tete started well, pacing himself in the first three rounds. Ntsele got into the rhythm by banging the body, obviously informed of his opponent’s poor conditioning.
By the fourth round not only was the Free State boxer in control, as he pinned Tete on the ropes to rip off with body blows to the midsection, there were fears that the fight might not even see the final round. In typical Tete fashion he stood against the ropes and allowed his foe to bang away, only throwing pawing punches to ward off the attack.
While Tete had displayed his lack of stamina in previous bouts, he now proved he belongs to the select few boxers who are blessed with being able to gain a second wind during a fight. This was evident as he picked up the pace as the rounds progressed and forced Ntsele to fight on the back foot. While Ntsele is good offensively he also showed of his inability to fight going backwards.
When Tete advanced, he was able to dominate his foe, scoring with crisp blows. By this time almost every local boxing stakeholder, be it a promoter, a manager, trainer or fan, had camped in Tete’s corner, offering all sorts of advice, many conflicting with each other.
This caused Mhikiza Myekeni, who is still the budding trainer in Tete’s corner, to lose focus as he was assailed by screams from people near his corner. At one stage Myekeni was seen shouting back at another trainer who was telling him what to do. By this time security personnel had formed a shield near Tete’s corner to prevent overzealous people from disturbing Myekeni and Chief Njekanye, his assistant.
But all were able to cheer loudly when Makazole was in control of the fight with sweat running down Zolani’s body as if he was in the fight himself. Zolani is scheduled to challenge for the IBF world junior bantamweight title against Japanese Teiru Kinoshita in a date yet to be determined.
When the final bell sounded to end the fight, security personnel were powerless to prevent Zolani from jumping into the ring to celebrate with his brother. All the judges saw Tete winning the fight by scores of 117-111, 117-112 and 116-111.
In another action packed bout former SA junior featherweight champion Macbute Sinyabi survived scary moments to drop gutsy Free Stater Tello Litebe in the seventh round en route to a well-deserved unanimous points decision.
With new trainer Dowie Mzini in his corner, after cutting ties with Welcome Ncita, Sinyabi appeared relaxed and displayed a surprising solid jaw as he took Litebe’s best shots but gave plenty in return.
The bout featured heated exchanges with Litebe’s overarm right often landing home. But unlike before when he could pitch but not catch, Sinyabi was never even wobbled by the punches.
Litebe also displayed a granite jaw and even though he visited the canvas, his fall was more a case of him being off balance than anything else. Launching an offence, Litebe landed big shots on the retreating Sinyabi but left himself open for a short right which dropped him on one knee.
Sinyabi then continued to dominate the round, landing home with right handers, but the visitor remained calm under the attack.
The win will likely earn Sinyabi a challenge against former stablemate Lusanda Komanisi in a bout expected to fill up any venue in the region.
Other results: Luyanda Mvula W Siseko Nkohliso (junior-fly); Sinethemba W Siviwe Jonas (junior fly); Nasiphi Mdlangazi TKO 1 Siphuxolo Wiso (bantam); Buleleani Rooibaard TKO 1 Lukhanyo Kapteini (junior-light); Yanga Sigqibo W Olwethu Ngquke (straw).
Meanwhile on Saturday, Siphamandla Baleni scored a chilling seven round knockout of Malibongwe Mntusanto to take his Eastern Cape mini-flyweight crown at the Mdantsane Indoor Centre.
Tete outlasts Ntsele to take title
WHEN the WBA Pan-African flyweight title clash between Mdantsane’s Makazole Tete and Doctor Ntsele ended at Orient Theatre in East London yesterday, Tete’s younger brother Zolani leapt over the ropes and lifted his sibling shoulder high, happy that he had finally come of age.EVASIVE ACTION: Makazole Tete misses with a left to the head in the WBA Pan-African
flyweight title fight against Doctor Ntsele at the Orient Theatre yesterday,
It was not hard to understand why, as Makazole finally shed off his stamina problems and finished the fight strongly, setting the packed hall into raptures. Dancing and at times mocking his foe, Makazole finished the fight as strongly as he usually starts his fights.
Known for gassing out even in a six-rounder, Tete started well, pacing himself in the first three rounds. Ntsele got into the rhythm by banging the body, obviously informed of his opponent’s poor conditioning.
By the fourth round not only was the Free State boxer in control, as he pinned Tete on the ropes to rip off with body blows to the midsection, there were fears that the fight might not even see the final round. In typical Tete fashion he stood against the ropes and allowed his foe to bang away, only throwing pawing punches to ward off the attack.
While Tete had displayed his lack of stamina in previous bouts, he now proved he belongs to the select few boxers who are blessed with being able to gain a second wind during a fight. This was evident as he picked up the pace as the rounds progressed and forced Ntsele to fight on the back foot. While Ntsele is good offensively he also showed of his inability to fight going backwards.
When Tete advanced, he was able to dominate his foe, scoring with crisp blows. By this time almost every local boxing stakeholder, be it a promoter, a manager, trainer or fan, had camped in Tete’s corner, offering all sorts of advice, many conflicting with each other.
This caused Mhikiza Myekeni, who is still the budding trainer in Tete’s corner, to lose focus as he was assailed by screams from people near his corner. At one stage Myekeni was seen shouting back at another trainer who was telling him what to do. By this time security personnel had formed a shield near Tete’s corner to prevent overzealous people from disturbing Myekeni and Chief Njekanye, his assistant.
But all were able to cheer loudly when Makazole was in control of the fight with sweat running down Zolani’s body as if he was in the fight himself. Zolani is scheduled to challenge for the IBF world junior bantamweight title against Japanese Teiru Kinoshita in a date yet to be determined.
When the final bell sounded to end the fight, security personnel were powerless to prevent Zolani from jumping into the ring to celebrate with his brother. All the judges saw Tete winning the fight by scores of 117-111, 117-112 and 116-111.
In another action packed bout former SA junior featherweight champion Macbute Sinyabi survived scary moments to drop gutsy Free Stater Tello Litebe in the seventh round en route to a well-deserved unanimous points decision.
With new trainer Dowie Mzini in his corner, after cutting ties with Welcome Ncita, Sinyabi appeared relaxed and displayed a surprising solid jaw as he took Litebe’s best shots but gave plenty in return.
The bout featured heated exchanges with Litebe’s overarm right often landing home. But unlike before when he could pitch but not catch, Sinyabi was never even wobbled by the punches.
Litebe also displayed a granite jaw and even though he visited the canvas, his fall was more a case of him being off balance than anything else. Launching an offence, Litebe landed big shots on the retreating Sinyabi but left himself open for a short right which dropped him on one knee.
Sinyabi then continued to dominate the round, landing home with right handers, but the visitor remained calm under the attack.
The win will likely earn Sinyabi a challenge against former stablemate Lusanda Komanisi in a bout expected to fill up any venue in the region.
Other results: Luyanda Mvula W Siseko Nkohliso (junior-fly); Sinethemba W Siviwe Jonas (junior fly); Nasiphi Mdlangazi TKO 1 Siphuxolo Wiso (bantam); Buleleani Rooibaard TKO 1 Lukhanyo Kapteini (junior-light); Yanga Sigqibo W Olwethu Ngquke (straw).
Meanwhile on Saturday, Siphamandla Baleni scored a chilling seven round knockout of Malibongwe Mntusanto to take his Eastern Cape mini-flyweight crown at the Mdantsane Indoor Centre.
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