Yoyo loses SA junior welterweight crown to Funeka.
IT WAS a night to remember for boxing in the region when five title bouts were fought at a packed Orient Theatre on Saturday with all but one of them producing chilling knockouts.
However, the night belonged to Ali “Rush Hour” Funeka for his ruthless destruction of Mzolisi Yoyo in four rounds to lift the SA junior welterweight crown.
Pitting two 36-year-old veterans against each other, the bout had been on demand for a while but it needed Funeka to be a mandatory challenger to finally make it happen.
And in the days leading up to the clash, the two former stablemates maintained a notable respect for each other even refusing to badmouth each other.
But once the bell sounded, all the respect went out of the window as they charged at each other like enraged bulls.
Funeka was the first to hit home when he wobbled Yoyo with a big right.
With the champion’s faculties totally scrambled, the bell came to his rescue.
Funeka put his height advantage to good use as he kept his jab on Yoyo’s face making it impossible for the shorter fighter to come inside. But it was in the third round that Funeka exhibited his boxing artistry as he danced in front of Yoyo with his gloves at his waist.
He then exploded with his right before again bobbing and weaving to the delight of the packed hall.
The frustration on Yoyo was beginning to tell as he realised that his opponent was far superior to him in every department.
Yoyo resorted to throwing telegraphic punches which were easily avoided by Funeka who kept pumping out his jab.
Funeka ended matters in the fourth when a big right sent Yoyo to the deck.
He managed to rise with unsteady legs but Funeka sent him back to the canvas where he was counted out.
With such a performance Funeka, who knocked out Jason Bedeman in one round in his previous clash, proved that he is still capable of staking his claim on the world stage.
While Funeka produced a flawless performance, Xolisani Ndongeni could not be left behind although he had to dig deep to see off the gutsy challenge of Mlamli Madikane in their SA lightweight title clash.
Ndongeni set a frenetic pace from the start, landing big blows to floor Madikane in the first round.
Madikane, who fought through the storm, was down again in the second from a lopping right.
The bout featured heavy exchange of leather with Madikane wearing his heart on his sleeve.
Ndongeni realised that the all out war was playing in Madikane’s hands and began to use his boxing skills. It was at the stage that Madikane took frightening punishment especially in the fifth round as he staggered and fell.
However, the referee allowed him to continue, much to the surprise of the packed hall. He managed to see out the round but he was a beaten man and when he came back for the sixth round he had nothing to offer.
After taking more punches again, his corner finally threw in the towel to save him.
Makazole Tete totally outclassed Morris Lento, dropping him several times before the one-sided slaughter was halted in the sixth round.
Tete won the SA flyweight crown and defended his WBA Pan African title in the process.
Other results: Luyanda Mvula TKO 7 Thabiso Moorosi (SA junior flyweight title); Lwandile Sityatha W 12 Siphosethu Mvula (WBF junior bantamweight title).
‘Rush Hour’ steals the show
IT WAS a night to remember for boxing in the region when five title bouts were fought at a packed Orient Theatre on Saturday with all but one of them producing chilling knockouts.
However, the night belonged to Ali “Rush Hour” Funeka for his ruthless destruction of Mzolisi Yoyo in four rounds to lift the SA junior welterweight crown.
Pitting two 36-year-old veterans against each other, the bout had been on demand for a while but it needed Funeka to be a mandatory challenger to finally make it happen.
And in the days leading up to the clash, the two former stablemates maintained a notable respect for each other even refusing to badmouth each other.
But once the bell sounded, all the respect went out of the window as they charged at each other like enraged bulls.
Funeka was the first to hit home when he wobbled Yoyo with a big right.
With the champion’s faculties totally scrambled, the bell came to his rescue.
Funeka put his height advantage to good use as he kept his jab on Yoyo’s face making it impossible for the shorter fighter to come inside. But it was in the third round that Funeka exhibited his boxing artistry as he danced in front of Yoyo with his gloves at his waist.
He then exploded with his right before again bobbing and weaving to the delight of the packed hall.
The frustration on Yoyo was beginning to tell as he realised that his opponent was far superior to him in every department.
Yoyo resorted to throwing telegraphic punches which were easily avoided by Funeka who kept pumping out his jab.
Funeka ended matters in the fourth when a big right sent Yoyo to the deck.
He managed to rise with unsteady legs but Funeka sent him back to the canvas where he was counted out.
With such a performance Funeka, who knocked out Jason Bedeman in one round in his previous clash, proved that he is still capable of staking his claim on the world stage.
While Funeka produced a flawless performance, Xolisani Ndongeni could not be left behind although he had to dig deep to see off the gutsy challenge of Mlamli Madikane in their SA lightweight title clash.
Ndongeni set a frenetic pace from the start, landing big blows to floor Madikane in the first round.
Madikane, who fought through the storm, was down again in the second from a lopping right.
The bout featured heavy exchange of leather with Madikane wearing his heart on his sleeve.
Ndongeni realised that the all out war was playing in Madikane’s hands and began to use his boxing skills. It was at the stage that Madikane took frightening punishment especially in the fifth round as he staggered and fell.
However, the referee allowed him to continue, much to the surprise of the packed hall. He managed to see out the round but he was a beaten man and when he came back for the sixth round he had nothing to offer.
After taking more punches again, his corner finally threw in the towel to save him.
Makazole Tete totally outclassed Morris Lento, dropping him several times before the one-sided slaughter was halted in the sixth round.
Tete won the SA flyweight crown and defended his WBA Pan African title in the process.
Other results: Luyanda Mvula TKO 7 Thabiso Moorosi (SA junior flyweight title); Lwandile Sityatha W 12 Siphosethu Mvula (WBF junior bantamweight title).
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