Mthatha challenger, Viwe “Red Machine” Mdletyeni failed to dispose hard-hitting veteran champion Patrick Malinga from Gauteng of his WBA Pan-African Lightweight crown, when he lost on a technical knockout during the early hours of Saturday morning.
The clash headlined a 10-bout tournament hosted by the Eastern Cape Department of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture and King Sabata Dalindyebo local municipality, in partnership with Zulu Sports Productions, at the OR Tambo hall in Mthatha on Friday night.
Among those who attended the event were MEC Pemmy Majodina, former world champion Welcome Ncitha, Justice spokesman Mthunzi Mhaga, ANC parliamentarian Beauty Dlulane and a slew of current Eastern Cape-born boxing champions including Zolani Tete and his brother Makazole, Mzonke Fana, Ali Funeka and Mthatha’s own poster boys, Athenkosi Dumezweni and Siphamandla Baleni.
However, it took less than three rounds for the 29-year-old Mdletyeni to feel the power of the punches of his 39-year-old foe.
From the first bell, the evergreen Malinga stalked his opponent like a lion stalking a wounded buffalo.
But credit to Mdletyeni, as he was the one to hit the first shot which managed to get through Malinga’s guard. Mdletyeni also fought smart, hitting and moving, while the home crowd shouted at him to throw a jab.
The fight continued along the same vein in the second round, with Mdletyeni, although fighting on the backfoot, managing to catch Malinga with a sleek one-two combination to the face.
Another big right from the younger boxer also saw Malinga stagger, but he kept on charging forward. That was until the third round when Mdletyeni committed the cardinal sin of trying to mix it with a hard puncher such as Malinga.
And after being caught straight in the face with some big punches, Malinga unleashed a quick right which caught Mdletyeni on the ribs which saw him going down, grimacing in pain.
A Daily Dispatch photographer was even able to hear him telling his corner, who quickly jumped into the ring “ndiyafa” , but less than two minutes later he was able to climb out the ring by himself and jogged to the change-rooms.
An elated Malinga said he believed he had fought the wrong fight in the first two rounds, which allowed his opponent to land some telling punches.
But Mdletyeni’s long-time trainer, Mthetho Dumezweni, blamed the boxer for ditching their game plan.
“He was supposed to hit and move, hit and move but he decided to throw all of that out of the window and trade punches with Malinga instead.
“We knew Malinga punches with power but he thought he could match him. He would have been frustrated by round four .”
Mdletyeni said he felt like he had not only disappointed his fans but himself as well.
“I tried to mix with him. I saw I was hitting him and he was feeling my punches while I was able to take his.
“And I forgot all about the game plan,” he added.
The pair, however, were cagey when asked about their future plans.
Meanwhile, in another exciting bout, East London’s Ayanda Ndulani scored a 12th-round technical knockout against a spirited yet outboxed Ndikho Magadaza, to claim the WBF All Africa mini-flyweight title.
As early as the second round, Magadaza hit the canvas after walking straight into an uppercut by his taller opponent.
The same scenario played out time and again, as rounds went by and he carelessly lunged towards Ndulani, only to be knocked down.
In the last round, Ndulani unleashed a barrage of blows on his opponent but credit to him, he refused to go down.
However, the referee intervened and stopped the bout.
Mthatha’s Xolani Mcotheli also displayed superior boxing skills when he outpointed Lungisa Jikani from Port Elizabeth in their six-round Junior-welterweight clash.
In other bouts, Luthando Mbumbulwana from Mthatha beat Simpiwe Mayeza from Ndevana in King William’s Town by a technical knockout in their junior featherweight clash, while local lad Siseko Makeleni won a split decision against East London’s Dumisani Tose. Mbulelo Nxazonke from Cala beat Akhona Msindeli. — sikhon@ dispatch.co.za
‘Red Machine’ fails to follow game plan
The clash headlined a 10-bout tournament hosted by the Eastern Cape Department of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture and King Sabata Dalindyebo local municipality, in partnership with Zulu Sports Productions, at the OR Tambo hall in Mthatha on Friday night.
Among those who attended the event were MEC Pemmy Majodina, former world champion Welcome Ncitha, Justice spokesman Mthunzi Mhaga, ANC parliamentarian Beauty Dlulane and a slew of current Eastern Cape-born boxing champions including Zolani Tete and his brother Makazole, Mzonke Fana, Ali Funeka and Mthatha’s own poster boys, Athenkosi Dumezweni and Siphamandla Baleni.
However, it took less than three rounds for the 29-year-old Mdletyeni to feel the power of the punches of his 39-year-old foe.
From the first bell, the evergreen Malinga stalked his opponent like a lion stalking a wounded buffalo.
But credit to Mdletyeni, as he was the one to hit the first shot which managed to get through Malinga’s guard. Mdletyeni also fought smart, hitting and moving, while the home crowd shouted at him to throw a jab.
The fight continued along the same vein in the second round, with Mdletyeni, although fighting on the backfoot, managing to catch Malinga with a sleek one-two combination to the face.
Another big right from the younger boxer also saw Malinga stagger, but he kept on charging forward. That was until the third round when Mdletyeni committed the cardinal sin of trying to mix it with a hard puncher such as Malinga.
And after being caught straight in the face with some big punches, Malinga unleashed a quick right which caught Mdletyeni on the ribs which saw him going down, grimacing in pain.
A Daily Dispatch photographer was even able to hear him telling his corner, who quickly jumped into the ring “ndiyafa” , but less than two minutes later he was able to climb out the ring by himself and jogged to the change-rooms.
An elated Malinga said he believed he had fought the wrong fight in the first two rounds, which allowed his opponent to land some telling punches.
But Mdletyeni’s long-time trainer, Mthetho Dumezweni, blamed the boxer for ditching their game plan.
“He was supposed to hit and move, hit and move but he decided to throw all of that out of the window and trade punches with Malinga instead.
“We knew Malinga punches with power but he thought he could match him. He would have been frustrated by round four .”
Mdletyeni said he felt like he had not only disappointed his fans but himself as well.
“I tried to mix with him. I saw I was hitting him and he was feeling my punches while I was able to take his.
“And I forgot all about the game plan,” he added.
The pair, however, were cagey when asked about their future plans.
Meanwhile, in another exciting bout, East London’s Ayanda Ndulani scored a 12th-round technical knockout against a spirited yet outboxed Ndikho Magadaza, to claim the WBF All Africa mini-flyweight title.
As early as the second round, Magadaza hit the canvas after walking straight into an uppercut by his taller opponent.
The same scenario played out time and again, as rounds went by and he carelessly lunged towards Ndulani, only to be knocked down.
In the last round, Ndulani unleashed a barrage of blows on his opponent but credit to him, he refused to go down.
However, the referee intervened and stopped the bout.
Mthatha’s Xolani Mcotheli also displayed superior boxing skills when he outpointed Lungisa Jikani from Port Elizabeth in their six-round Junior-welterweight clash.
In other bouts, Luthando Mbumbulwana from Mthatha beat Simpiwe Mayeza from Ndevana in King William’s Town by a technical knockout in their junior featherweight clash, while local lad Siseko Makeleni won a split decision against East London’s Dumisani Tose. Mbulelo Nxazonke from Cala beat Akhona Msindeli. — sikhon@ dispatch.co.za
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