Mahlangu crowned champ at Orient

“ I LOVE the people of the Eastern Cape but unfortunately I want to inflict pain on every boxer from this province.”

That was how Boibatong-based Bongani Mahlangu summed up the brutal punishment he meted out to Cacadu-born, Capetonian Toto Helebe when he took the WBO International junior featherweight crown at the Orient Theatre in East London on Friday.

While Helebe no longer resides in the province, the fact that his roots are in the Eastern Cape makes him an ideal opponent to be crushed by Mahlangu as he avenges the alleged robberies he says he suffered in the amateur ranks against Eastern Cape boxers.

“Every time I went to the finals of the amateurs I always faced a boxer from the Cape and I would always be robbed,” he claimed.

And after gaining a measure of revenge when he dealt Mdantsane’s Baby Champs hopeful Macbute Sinyabi with a first round blitzing, Mahlangu was to suffer another robbery against Vuyisile Bebe despite retiring him from boxing when he broke his jaw.

But having become the self-proclaimed Executioner, Mahlangu, promoted by Xaba Promotions and Events in East London, knocked out Siviwe Hasheni in nine rounds to lift the SA junior featherweight crown before returning to the Eastern Cape to see off Mfusi Maxhayi in a harder than expected successful title defence.

While his clash against Helebe was a toss-up before they met in the ring, once the bell sounded Mahlangu turned it into a merciless shellacking.

Swinging his left with gusto, the Wonderboy at times swiveled his whole body to generate power behind every punch he threw.

And many of those bombs found the target with surprising regularity even though Helebe came to the fight knowing that he was facing a left-hander.

“ I was surprised by how Helebe kept moving towards my left hand and that made my job easy,” Mahlangu confirmed after the fight.

Helebe’s style, based on volume punching, meant he needed to come inside to be effective, instead he was a sucker to Mahlangu’s wicked uppercuts when the battle was fought on the ropes.

As the pounding continued, some spectators expected Helebe to retire on his stool as his chances of winning the bout diminished with each passing round.

To his credit he willed himself back into the firing line, eating hard punches with Mahlangu even choosing to retreat despite controlling the fight.

The dominance of Mahlangu was reflected by the judges who turned in 116-110, 118-110 and 119-110 scores.

Just how Helebe managed to finish the fight on his feet was beyond belief with his bony face hardly showing a single lump.

One boxer who did not put himself through such hell was Mdantsane’s Vusumzi Bhokolo who decided that enough was enough at the end of his sixth round SA lightweight title challenge against evergreen Mzonke Fana.

Bhokolo started well as he always does in the first round of his fights, launching attack behind a disciplined jab but he was clipped by a stunning overarm right hand which spun him around before dumping him on the seats of his pants.

Despite possessing a fragile jaw, Bhokolo was not to expected to visit the canvas from the first punch thrown and the early trip caused him to abandon his adopted discipline to go for broke.

He seemed to be gaining success with his swarming strategy as it kept Fana occupied but the effort was also too much for his stamina which is known to be one of his Achilles Heels.

Other results: Lindile Tshemese W Sithembiso Faye (vacant SA junior bantamweight title), Daluxolo Mangcotywa W Thembelani Okolo (SA mini-flyweight title); Mfundo Gwayana W Thembelani Nxoshe (10 rnds fly); Lubabalo Sitoyile W Bamanye Mejane (6 rnds jnr feather); Sabelo Ngebiyana TKO 1 Ronnie Chiloene ( 6 rnds bantam).