SELDOM have two fighters been as cagey towards each other like Ali Funeka and Mzolisi Yoyo are ahead of their clash at Orient Theatre tomorrow.
The two veterans will clash for Yoyo’s SA junior welterweight title in a Xaba Promotion show featuring four other title fights.
While all other bouts are potentially explosive especially the WBF world junior bantamweight title showdown between Lwandile Sityatha and Siphosethu Mvula, it is the clash between the two senior citizens that has captured the interest of the fans.
The encounter pits two fighters who know each other as they had shared stables twice in the past and actually sparred each other when Funeka sought a brief refuge under Dowie Mzini’s gymnasium where Yoyo is a top fighter.
The tension between the pair was obvious at the premedical this week as they avoided each other like plague.
Even during the photo session they hardly looked at each other and when asked of their chances one could sense the respect the have for one another.
Mzini who trains Yoyo was also caught up in the tension as he hardly put two sentences together when asked about the chances of his charge.
“I really do not think there is anything I can say about this bout,” he said.
“It is one of those bouts that you cannot say much because these two know each other like the back of their hands.”
Asked to describe the sparring session between the two when they were under his tutelage, Mzini could only say: “I do not want to say something that might be construed differently so I would rather not answer that question.”
This gave an impression that something major happened in the session and when asked if one boxer knocked out the other, Mzini could only burst out laughing.
The fight has been on the cards for a while but the Yoyo camp was allegedly reluctant to accept Funeka’s challenge until it was forced to when he became a mandatory challenger after destroying Jason Bedeman in one round.
Yoyo is coming off a disappointing loss to Zolani Marali who also beat Funeka in WBF title fights.
Mzini admitted that Yoyo was taking this fight very seriously judging by the silence he has been maintaining in training.
“When Mjobha is serious about a fight you see it by his silence as if he is in a trance. He does not talk at all and will answer what you are asking him and then fall silent. This is what he has been doing since this fight was announced and you can tell that he knows the importance of a victory here.”
Mzini conceded that the fight will probably be won by the corners more than the boxers.
Funeka is trained by budding trainer Dokes Sikonyela and in this department Mzini should have a decided edge as he has plenty of experience. To add to his advantage, Mzini argues that Yoyo has an edge in the knockout ratio even though Funeka will come in as the more experienced of the two having challenged for the IBF world title three times with commendable performances.
Both are 36-years-old with Funeka having an edge in the number of fights as he has fought 40 times with just four losses and three draws with 27 knockouts.
Yoyo has lost five times in 26 bouts scoring 16 knockouts.
Silence fuelling intrigue
The two veterans will clash for Yoyo’s SA junior welterweight title in a Xaba Promotion show featuring four other title fights.
While all other bouts are potentially explosive especially the WBF world junior bantamweight title showdown between Lwandile Sityatha and Siphosethu Mvula, it is the clash between the two senior citizens that has captured the interest of the fans.
The encounter pits two fighters who know each other as they had shared stables twice in the past and actually sparred each other when Funeka sought a brief refuge under Dowie Mzini’s gymnasium where Yoyo is a top fighter.
The tension between the pair was obvious at the premedical this week as they avoided each other like plague.
Even during the photo session they hardly looked at each other and when asked of their chances one could sense the respect the have for one another.
Mzini who trains Yoyo was also caught up in the tension as he hardly put two sentences together when asked about the chances of his charge.
“I really do not think there is anything I can say about this bout,” he said.
“It is one of those bouts that you cannot say much because these two know each other like the back of their hands.”
Asked to describe the sparring session between the two when they were under his tutelage, Mzini could only say: “I do not want to say something that might be construed differently so I would rather not answer that question.”
This gave an impression that something major happened in the session and when asked if one boxer knocked out the other, Mzini could only burst out laughing.
The fight has been on the cards for a while but the Yoyo camp was allegedly reluctant to accept Funeka’s challenge until it was forced to when he became a mandatory challenger after destroying Jason Bedeman in one round.
Yoyo is coming off a disappointing loss to Zolani Marali who also beat Funeka in WBF title fights.
Mzini admitted that Yoyo was taking this fight very seriously judging by the silence he has been maintaining in training.
“When Mjobha is serious about a fight you see it by his silence as if he is in a trance. He does not talk at all and will answer what you are asking him and then fall silent. This is what he has been doing since this fight was announced and you can tell that he knows the importance of a victory here.”
Mzini conceded that the fight will probably be won by the corners more than the boxers.
Funeka is trained by budding trainer Dokes Sikonyela and in this department Mzini should have a decided edge as he has plenty of experience. To add to his advantage, Mzini argues that Yoyo has an edge in the knockout ratio even though Funeka will come in as the more experienced of the two having challenged for the IBF world title three times with commendable performances.
Both are 36-years-old with Funeka having an edge in the number of fights as he has fought 40 times with just four losses and three draws with 27 knockouts.
Yoyo has lost five times in 26 bouts scoring 16 knockouts.
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