Courageous Ndongeni battles through to defeat Seroka

Superstar entrance and showmanship as is always the case, but not so convincing a performance inside the square jungle.

This is perhaps the best way to describe Xolisani “Nomeva” Ndongeni’s showing in the IBO lightweight title scrap against a determined Jasper Seroka in a Sijuta Promotions boxing extravaganza at Selborne Park Tennis Court, East London at the weekend.

But Ndongeni and his camp blame it on a right shoulder strained muscle injury they say worsened just nine days before the fight.

According to Ndongeni and his trainer Colin Nathan, it was a risk for the boxer to fight in the first place but one they had to take.

But be that as it may Seroka deserves a pat on the back for fighting a good fight for he seemed to be winning the fight until the Mount Frere-born Ndongeni upped the tempo in round nine to finish the fight off TKO style.

Ndongeni started off explosively in the early rounds but Seroka stood his ground and charged forward vigorously despite Nomeva’s skills and mobility inside the ring.

Despite a commanding start to the fight, Ndongeni appeared to be losing the tussle, at least on points, especially from the fifth round.

But this was an upper hand that did not last too long as Ndongeni unleashed a series of left-right combinations and Seroka was rescued by the referee Lulama Mtya who stopped the fight more than a minute into round nine.

“I told him after round eight that the fight was going to swing either way if he allowed it to go the distance because Seroka was fighting a good fight,” said Nathan.

“It was either we went for the kill or risk losing or winning with a tight score but fortunately my boy listens and he did the job.”

Ndongeni said he was thrilled to have pulled off the victory via the short route as his right hand was almost dysfunctional.

He explained: “The fight was difficult for me because I was literally fighting with one hand and the longer it went on, the more pain I felt in my right shoulder.

“It is not easy to come to a world title fight knowing you will be fighting with one hand but I tried my best and did better than I expected because we took a big risk against a good opponent,” he said.

“I am a soldier and as they say, a soldier dies with boots on, but at least now I will have ample time to nurse my injury before my next fight sometime next year.”

In another fight Mzuvukile Magwaca had an easy second round technical knockout victory against a mickey mouse opponent – Raul Medina of Argentina, who came to this tussle with a baggage of 16 losses.

When the referee stopped the fight, one man from Medina’s corner was already halfway to going inside the ring to stop the fight himself, well aware of the pain that was inflicted by a composed Magwaca on their charge, who was confirmed WBA bantamweight international champion with ease.

Two of the best performances came from Siphiwe Lusizi, and female boxer Leighandre Jegels, whose fights finished earlier than many boxing fans in attendance had anticipated.

Lusizi wrapped up his scrap with Phumlani Ntlebi courtesy of the short route within 52 seconds of the first round, while ‘Baby Lee’ Jegels did it in a minute and three seconds, also in the opening round of her bout with Macarena Castillo.

Vusumzi Bokolo also sent Thanduxolo Gatyeni to the canvas in the fourth round as Siyabonga Siyo won with a unanimous decision score against Ronie Tanallon of the Phillipines in a mini-flyweight square-off.