Flawless performance by Yanga Sigqibo

Yet another Heritage tournament introduced another Duncan Village star in Yanga Sigqibo.

Following in the footsteps of Azinga Fuzile from a heritage month tournament last year, Sigqibo has announced his arrival in the boxing scene with a flawless performance against Lindile Tshemese to lift the SA junior bantamweight title.

As it is always the case with big tournaments we will analyse what took place in yet another edition of Xaba Promotions and Events event held at Orient Theatre last Friday.

lJhack Tepora KO2 Lusanda Komanisi

When Komanisi hit the deck courtesy of a perfectly placed right hook, scenes of Makazole Tete’s stunning knockout loss by another Filipino Jonas Sultan came flashing back.

It later emerged that the flashbacks were also hitting fight promoter Ayanda Matiti who organised the Tete-Sultan fight last December.

“I think XPE must contemplate taking promotional rights on these Filipinos because we are giving them a platform to shine,” Matiti jokingly said after the fight.

Indeed since beating Tete, Sultan is now poised to challenge for the IBF world title formerly held by Makazole’s younger brother Zolani.

And judging by Tepora’s win he is also destined for a world title shot.

Komanisi fought a wrong fight from the first round believing too much as always on his power.

Despite his boyish look, Tepora turned a tiger once he let his hands go. His poise was most impressive and his body to head offence was something to behold.

On the other hand Komanisi should never go near a featherweight division again. It is clear that his days as a featherweight boxer are over.

lYanga Sigqibo W Lindile Tshemese.

I admit I am eating humble pie and enjoying it after witnessing Sigqibo’s coronation. Having watched him against Mfundo Gwayana this past July, I was confident he would never see the final round against Tshemese. But boy did he prove me wrong.

While his skills are undeniable, Sigqibo did not maintain consistency against Gwayana and I figured once Tshemese started to press him he would unravel.

But a top class preparation helped Sigqibo to become as fit as the proverbial fiddle.

He never strayed from the game plan, with Tshemese getting exasperated as the fight progressed. Talk about a worthy champion.

lUyanda Nogogo KO2 Odwa Gaxa

I am yet to see a local boxer who is able to throw four power punches with one hand in a split second.

Floyd Mayweather used to do it during his rise to stardom, when he would throw a right hand four times in quick succession. Our Philip Ndou could attest to that.

The way Nogogo throws a left hand in similar fashion underlines his skill.

This boy is growing fight by fight and I dare say he will begin to cost his promoters dearly because opponents will run for cover at his mere mention. This will force his promoter to entice the boxers with big purses if he intends to pit the teen against local opposition.

Gaxa was felled by a liver punch and shook his head while taking the full count.

lFikile Mlonyeni W Gaveni Nkwenteni.

There is something fascinating about Mlonyeni’s post-fight antics. After dominating the fight he engaged in shadow-boxing, throwing more good punches in the air than those he threw at Nkwenteni.

In his last bout against Sonwabo Twatwa, while waiting the official outcome from the ring announcer, Mlonyeni belted out Ijahman’s We Were Warriors, to the amazement of his handlers.

lAthenkosi Dumezweni TKO2 Siphosethu Zingela

Dumezweni was fighting for the first time since his knockout loss to Tshemese and also the first time under new trainer Damean Durandt. As result he looked a bit tight and was as surprised when the fight was stopped as everyone else. After dropping Zingela with a body blow he looked the other way while the referee waved the fight over.

Long after the fight had been stopped Dumezweni was still waiting for the referee to call for resumption of the bout, only to be told that he had scored a knockout. It was a bizarre way to win but they all count.

lGift Bholo W Vuyani Masondo. This was a disappointing fight as Masondo refused to engage, probably because he was not in his best physical condition.

lAthenkosi Thongwana W Nasiphi Ziwani

Yet again, Ben Mtyaliseko nearly left the ring without a win although his charge clearly outpointed Ziwani. The bout was scored a split decision win but one wonders why the other judge felt Ziwani deserved the decision.

Despite wild pleas from a female fan who kept screaming “Jab Strawweight, jab” Ziwani could not find the target.

On the other hand Thongwana easily ducked below his punches.

When the outcome was announced as a split decision Mtyaliseko must have had flashbacks to his other mini-flyweight, Sikho Moshani, who was adjudged loser to Bangile Nyangani at the same venue in April.