Nobody believed Aphiwe Mboyiya when he predicted a convincing win over tough veteran Jasper Seroka but after all was said and done, the left- hander was declared the victor and the new South African junior lightweight champion.
Coming in a heavy underdog, Mboyiya did not only dethrone Seroka in their title clash at Orient Theatre on Friday but he did so in dominant fashion.
Bar the knockdown he suffered in the 11th round when Seroka caught him off balance, Mboyiya was in control for most of the proceedings as he landed telling blows that wobbled the visitor.
By beating Seroka, Mboyiya won a second national title, having ruled the roost in the featherweight division when he dethroned then favoured Sydney Maluleka.
And if one considers his age, just 23, his achievements become more impressive, especially as his boxing career once appeared to heading towards a downward spiral.
His trainer, KC Cengani, was all smiles after his charge was declared the winner by scores of
118-112, 115-112 and 114-113.
“No one believed me when I said this boy had completely turned his life around,” Cengani said.
“Since we teamed up he has been dedicated to his craft and this win proves that Mboyiya is heading for stardom.”
Perhaps the sight of Benny Pailman in Seroka’s corner served as a catalyst for Mboyiya to smash his opponent to pieces.
Pailman was in Maluleka’s corner when he surrendered his featherweight crown to the then 19-year-old Mboyiya in 2012.
While Pailman did not call the shots in Seroka’s corner as the chief trainer was Manny Fernandez, the Johannesburg trainer was barking advice at ringside after his own charge Bongani Mahlangu had emerged victorious over Mdantsane’s Bonakele Bhikitsha to retain his SA junior featherweight crown earlier in the tournament.
Mboyiya started shakily as his punches missed the target but once he settled down he totally flummoxed Seroka, often beating him to the punch.
At times he appeared to be a few punches from forcing a stoppage as he staggered Seroka on numerous occasions.
The win upped his fight record to 13 wins with two defeats and a draw.
The tournament served as an inauguration for new kids on the block Zbashy Promotions and Amangubo Promotions.
Despite their promotional debut, the two outfits drew a full house with an event organised to the finest detail.
Other bouts on the night saw Makazole Tete scoring a first-round knockout of Tanzanian Ramadhani Kumbele to lift the vacant IBF Africa junior bantamweight crown.
Macbute Sinyabi did likewise to another Tanzanian visitor, Francis Miyeyusho when his body shot left him writhing in pain for the full count in the second round to retain his IBO International featherweight belt.
Mthatha’s Athenkosi Dumezweni was declared a technical knockout victor when Cleteus Mbele could not continue after dislocating his shoulder in the second round of their IBF Africa junior bantamweight title clash.
In the walkout bout Mthatha’s Bangile Nyangani dramatically introduced himself to the paid ranks when he blasted Xolani Zindlo away in two rounds of their mini-flyweight duel.
Mboyiya stuns Seroka to win national crown
Coming in a heavy underdog, Mboyiya did not only dethrone Seroka in their title clash at Orient Theatre on Friday but he did so in dominant fashion.
Bar the knockdown he suffered in the 11th round when Seroka caught him off balance, Mboyiya was in control for most of the proceedings as he landed telling blows that wobbled the visitor.
By beating Seroka, Mboyiya won a second national title, having ruled the roost in the featherweight division when he dethroned then favoured Sydney Maluleka.
And if one considers his age, just 23, his achievements become more impressive, especially as his boxing career once appeared to heading towards a downward spiral.
His trainer, KC Cengani, was all smiles after his charge was declared the winner by scores of
118-112, 115-112 and 114-113.
“No one believed me when I said this boy had completely turned his life around,” Cengani said.
“Since we teamed up he has been dedicated to his craft and this win proves that Mboyiya is heading for stardom.”
Perhaps the sight of Benny Pailman in Seroka’s corner served as a catalyst for Mboyiya to smash his opponent to pieces.
Pailman was in Maluleka’s corner when he surrendered his featherweight crown to the then 19-year-old Mboyiya in 2012.
While Pailman did not call the shots in Seroka’s corner as the chief trainer was Manny Fernandez, the Johannesburg trainer was barking advice at ringside after his own charge Bongani Mahlangu had emerged victorious over Mdantsane’s Bonakele Bhikitsha to retain his SA junior featherweight crown earlier in the tournament.
Mboyiya started shakily as his punches missed the target but once he settled down he totally flummoxed Seroka, often beating him to the punch.
At times he appeared to be a few punches from forcing a stoppage as he staggered Seroka on numerous occasions.
The win upped his fight record to 13 wins with two defeats and a draw.
The tournament served as an inauguration for new kids on the block Zbashy Promotions and Amangubo Promotions.
Despite their promotional debut, the two outfits drew a full house with an event organised to the finest detail.
Other bouts on the night saw Makazole Tete scoring a first-round knockout of Tanzanian Ramadhani Kumbele to lift the vacant IBF Africa junior bantamweight crown.
Macbute Sinyabi did likewise to another Tanzanian visitor, Francis Miyeyusho when his body shot left him writhing in pain for the full count in the second round to retain his IBO International featherweight belt.
Mthatha’s Athenkosi Dumezweni was declared a technical knockout victor when Cleteus Mbele could not continue after dislocating his shoulder in the second round of their IBF Africa junior bantamweight title clash.
In the walkout bout Mthatha’s Bangile Nyangani dramatically introduced himself to the paid ranks when he blasted Xolani Zindlo away in two rounds of their mini-flyweight duel.
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