A new boxing star was born at a packed Orient Theatre at the weekend, when 20-year-old pupil Azinga Fuzile introduced himself to the boxing world.
The Duncan Village southpaw totally outclassed experienced Mdantsane hero Macbute Sinyabi, sending him to the canvas three times en route to wresting his SA featherweight crown.
Fuzile achieved the feat in only his fifth professional fight, propelling himself into the history books.
So dominant was Fuzile that one would have been forgiven for thinking he was in fact the one with 33 fights, and not Sinyabi.
Despite being buoyed by his ever- loyal fans, including former world champion Zolani Tete, Sinyabi hardly won a round as he fought tentatively, wary of the sneaky left hand from Fuzile.
On the other hand, Fuzile boxed as he pleased, proving he was superior in all departments including offense and defence, fighting on the back foot or being aggressive.
There were moments when the Grade 11 student simply stayed on the ropes and beckoned Sinyabi to attack.
And when Sinyabi relented, he was blasted by a flurry of punches before Fuzile turned him round and put him in the very same corner.
Fuzile underlined his dominance when he sent Sinyabi crashing through the ropes for the first knockdown when the fight was only four rounds old.
The pounding continued round after round, as Fuzile danced in before darting away with deft moves.
Enjoying the moment, Fuzile even mimicked the shoulder roll made famous by Floyd Mayweather, rendering his more illustrious foe into a state of confusion.
While Fuzile had never gone 12 rounds before – where most detractors felt Sinyabi would have the upper hand – the young gun instead pressed the action, nailing the soon-to-be former champion with a straight left which dumped him on the seat of his pants.
Sinyabi appeared embarrassed as any chance he had of clinging to his throne was gone.
Instead of taking his foot off the pedal, Fuzile charged forward, wobbling Sinyabi with a two-punch salvo.
Fuzile then retreated, leaving the Mdantsane hero clutching thin air and crashing to the canvas.
By this time, some spectators hid their eyes behind their hands as they feared for Sinyabi’s life in the face of the marauding youngster. But the bell sounded to end the fight, sparing Sinyabi from a stoppage defeat.
All the judges had Fuzile winning the fight. The scores were 117-110, 117-109 and 118-109, signalling the new dawn of boxing.
Long after the fight had ended, groups of fans were still awed by the boxing lesson they had just witnessed.
Some even ran short of adjectives to describe what had transpired, while others questioned Sinyabi’s wisdom to accept the fight instead of vacating the title.
Fuzile’s win affirmed a Daily Dispatch prediction, made in his professional debut, that he would be a champion by his fifth fight.
In another grudge match, Thembelani Nxoshe smashed nemesis Mfundo Gwayana to a sixth round stoppage defeat to finally lift the elusive SA flyweight crown and add the WBO Africa title to his collection.
Other results:
Sinethemba Bam W10 Phila Gola (IBF Youth Junior Featherweight title), Fikile Mlonyeni TKO5 Sonwabo Twatwa (fly), Bangile Cengani TKO3 Xolisa Vukubi.
Pupil takes out hero
The Duncan Village southpaw totally outclassed experienced Mdantsane hero Macbute Sinyabi, sending him to the canvas three times en route to wresting his SA featherweight crown.
Fuzile achieved the feat in only his fifth professional fight, propelling himself into the history books.
So dominant was Fuzile that one would have been forgiven for thinking he was in fact the one with 33 fights, and not Sinyabi.
Despite being buoyed by his ever- loyal fans, including former world champion Zolani Tete, Sinyabi hardly won a round as he fought tentatively, wary of the sneaky left hand from Fuzile.
On the other hand, Fuzile boxed as he pleased, proving he was superior in all departments including offense and defence, fighting on the back foot or being aggressive.
There were moments when the Grade 11 student simply stayed on the ropes and beckoned Sinyabi to attack.
And when Sinyabi relented, he was blasted by a flurry of punches before Fuzile turned him round and put him in the very same corner.
Fuzile underlined his dominance when he sent Sinyabi crashing through the ropes for the first knockdown when the fight was only four rounds old.
The pounding continued round after round, as Fuzile danced in before darting away with deft moves.
Enjoying the moment, Fuzile even mimicked the shoulder roll made famous by Floyd Mayweather, rendering his more illustrious foe into a state of confusion.
While Fuzile had never gone 12 rounds before – where most detractors felt Sinyabi would have the upper hand – the young gun instead pressed the action, nailing the soon-to-be former champion with a straight left which dumped him on the seat of his pants.
Sinyabi appeared embarrassed as any chance he had of clinging to his throne was gone.
Instead of taking his foot off the pedal, Fuzile charged forward, wobbling Sinyabi with a two-punch salvo.
Fuzile then retreated, leaving the Mdantsane hero clutching thin air and crashing to the canvas.
By this time, some spectators hid their eyes behind their hands as they feared for Sinyabi’s life in the face of the marauding youngster. But the bell sounded to end the fight, sparing Sinyabi from a stoppage defeat.
All the judges had Fuzile winning the fight. The scores were 117-110, 117-109 and 118-109, signalling the new dawn of boxing.
Long after the fight had ended, groups of fans were still awed by the boxing lesson they had just witnessed.
Some even ran short of adjectives to describe what had transpired, while others questioned Sinyabi’s wisdom to accept the fight instead of vacating the title.
Fuzile’s win affirmed a Daily Dispatch prediction, made in his professional debut, that he would be a champion by his fifth fight.
In another grudge match, Thembelani Nxoshe smashed nemesis Mfundo Gwayana to a sixth round stoppage defeat to finally lift the elusive SA flyweight crown and add the WBO Africa title to his collection.
Other results:
Sinethemba Bam W10 Phila Gola (IBF Youth Junior Featherweight title), Fikile Mlonyeni TKO5 Sonwabo Twatwa (fly), Bangile Cengani TKO3 Xolisa Vukubi.
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