It was a weekend of contrasting outcomes for two boxers at the opposite end of their careers from the region.
One of the boxer’s career will likely come to an end while the other’s is beginning an ascent to great things in world boxing.
Mdantsane veteran Ali Funeka, 38, was brutally knocked out in New Zealand while 20-year-old Azinga Fuzile announced his arrival on the world stage with his own knockout win.
Hot boxing star Fuzile affirmed his growing stature as a future world beater when a perfectly placed liver shot sent visiting Georgian opponent Giorgi Gochisvili to hospital.
The Duncan Village southpaw of six bouts picked up a WBC youth featherweight belt after he delivered the body shot with vicious precision when the fight was only a round old at the Mdantsane Indoor Sports Centre.
Returning to action for the first time since his crowning moment when he dramatically introduced himself to national boxing with his toppling of experienced Macbute Sinyabi in September, Fuzile came to the fight with plenty of high expectations.
And he delivered with aplomb, knocking out Gochisvili to win his second title in a space of three months in just his sixth professional bout.
But there was no such luck for Funeka in a worldwide televised tournament in New Zealand a few hours later.
Fighting as a co-televised feature to the WBO world heavyweight title bout, Funeka was expected to grab the opportunity and use Australian Jeff Horn to re-launch his career and defy Father Time.
With the guests at the historic fight including Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum, Funeka needed to beat Horn and take his WBO intercontinental welterweight crown to set himself on course for further lucrative bouts.
He showed early signs of promise when he dropped Horn with a body shot in the second round.
But that was the only success he enjoyed as the 28-year-old Horn took control of the fight using Funeka as target practice in subsequent rounds.
Despite enjoying a reach and height advantage, Funeka allowed Horn to budge inside and land punches at will.
One such punch was a right hand that dropped Funeka hard in the fifth round.
Although he quickly picked himself off the canvas, Funeka came into the firing line again as he was sent to the ropes, sparing himself a second knockdown only because Horn pushed him after landing the punch.
But there was no reprieve for the Mdantsane veteran when Horn put him back on the canvas in the sixth round.
Again Funeka bravely made it to his feet but they failed to support him as he staggered across the ring forcing the referee to call off the slaughter.
“We had high hopes for Funeka because I had already clinched a deal with Bob Arum for him,” Funeka’s promoter Ayanda Matiti said dejectedly.
“He only needed to win this fight and he would have been set for a nice retirement package.”
The main bout saw New Zealander Joseph Parker escaping with a close majority decision over Mexican Andy Ruiz to win the WBO heavyweight crown.
Reaching for the stars and seeing stars
One of the boxer’s career will likely come to an end while the other’s is beginning an ascent to great things in world boxing.
Mdantsane veteran Ali Funeka, 38, was brutally knocked out in New Zealand while 20-year-old Azinga Fuzile announced his arrival on the world stage with his own knockout win.
Hot boxing star Fuzile affirmed his growing stature as a future world beater when a perfectly placed liver shot sent visiting Georgian opponent Giorgi Gochisvili to hospital.
The Duncan Village southpaw of six bouts picked up a WBC youth featherweight belt after he delivered the body shot with vicious precision when the fight was only a round old at the Mdantsane Indoor Sports Centre.
Returning to action for the first time since his crowning moment when he dramatically introduced himself to national boxing with his toppling of experienced Macbute Sinyabi in September, Fuzile came to the fight with plenty of high expectations.
And he delivered with aplomb, knocking out Gochisvili to win his second title in a space of three months in just his sixth professional bout.
But there was no such luck for Funeka in a worldwide televised tournament in New Zealand a few hours later.
Fighting as a co-televised feature to the WBO world heavyweight title bout, Funeka was expected to grab the opportunity and use Australian Jeff Horn to re-launch his career and defy Father Time.
With the guests at the historic fight including Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum, Funeka needed to beat Horn and take his WBO intercontinental welterweight crown to set himself on course for further lucrative bouts.
He showed early signs of promise when he dropped Horn with a body shot in the second round.
But that was the only success he enjoyed as the 28-year-old Horn took control of the fight using Funeka as target practice in subsequent rounds.
Despite enjoying a reach and height advantage, Funeka allowed Horn to budge inside and land punches at will.
One such punch was a right hand that dropped Funeka hard in the fifth round.
Although he quickly picked himself off the canvas, Funeka came into the firing line again as he was sent to the ropes, sparing himself a second knockdown only because Horn pushed him after landing the punch.
But there was no reprieve for the Mdantsane veteran when Horn put him back on the canvas in the sixth round.
Again Funeka bravely made it to his feet but they failed to support him as he staggered across the ring forcing the referee to call off the slaughter.
“We had high hopes for Funeka because I had already clinched a deal with Bob Arum for him,” Funeka’s promoter Ayanda Matiti said dejectedly.
“He only needed to win this fight and he would have been set for a nice retirement package.”
The main bout saw New Zealander Joseph Parker escaping with a close majority decision over Mexican Andy Ruiz to win the WBO heavyweight crown.
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