Dramatic win for Tshemese

Since the announcement of the return of national boxing awards, there has been a debate on which bout should walk way with the honours.

That question seems to have been answered after the thrilling clash put forth by Lindile Tshemese and Athi Dumezweni at the Orient Theatre on Saturday night.

Organised by TZ Promotions, the fight had all the ingredients of being a captivating encounter due to the contrasting southpaw styles of the participants.

And it did not disappoint as the combatants staged a memorable battle that will be hard to eclipse for the fight of the year accolade when the awards are held in the New Year.

With Tshemese’s SA junior bantamweight crown on the line, Dumezweni from Mthatha appeared to be on course to wrest it as his jab, hand speed and feet movement befuddled the heavy-footed champion.

Darting in an out, Dumezweni was able to pile up points although the tenacious Tshemese refused to simply hand over the title on a silver platter.

If Dumezweni’s dominance was doubtful, he made sure to put an exclamation mark to it in the seventh round when he literally handed down a vicious punishment.

Driving Tshemese around the ring, Dumezweni blasted the champion with wicked punches – one which even left his head entangled in the ropes with the referee very close to stopping the fight. In fact, another referee could have halted proceedings and there would have been no complaint.

Well and truly beaten, Tshemese was expected to capitulate in the following round, but Dumezweni inexplicably took his foot off the gas pedal and allowed the champion to get back into the fight.

Dumezweni’s trainer and uncle Mthetho later explained why his charge decided to fight cautiously instead of going for the kill.

“He told me in the corner that he would go and finish him off but I warned him against it lest he got caught by a lucky punch,” he said.

“I take full responsibility for what happened.”

While Tshemese gradually got back into the fight, he was still on the receiving end of the majority of exchanges but he never stopped returning the punches.

When the fight entered the 12th and last round, all Dumezweni needed to do was to stay away from the now charging Tshemese who sensed that it was now or never if he wanted to hold on to his hard-earned title.

But ever a blood-thirsty boxer, Dumezweni dared Tshemese even though he was clearly fatigued with his punches having lost their snap.

The outcome was fit for a Rocky movie script as Tshemese nailed Dumezweni with a left cross to force him to hold on for dear life.

Smelling blood, Tshemese went for the jugular as he even managed to get through with a couple of shots while the referee had called for a break to warn Dumezweni for holding.

At proceedings resumed, a Hail-Mary left dumped Dumezweni heavily on the seat of his pants.

He bravely got up but only managed to wobble to the ropes, forcing the fight to be called off with less than two minutes left for him to be crowned a champion.

Tshemese’s ability to snatch a victory from the jaws of defeat, sparked an invasion of the ring by his supporters, handlers and friends.

His win will go down as one of the most dramatic come-from-behind victories witnessed in the ring in the country.

So dramatic was the outcome that the main bout between Sharoddene Fortuin and Uruguayan Gabriela Bouvier paled in comparison.

Fortuin easily beat the South American dropping her in the second en route to a lopsided victory.

Other results: Leighandre Jegels W 8 Micaela Joana Lagos (fly); Sipho Mvula W6 Ephraim Chauke (jnr feather); Luzuko Siyo TKO 3 Sonwabo Twatwa (catchweight); Mbulelo Dyani TKO 2 Siphosethu Zingela (bantam); Simnikiwe Combo W Okuhle Ngaka (fly).