It was tougher than anticipated but finally Simphiwe Konkco emerged with his IBO mini-flyweight title intact after a unanimous decision win over Filipino Toto Landero at Zamakulungisa Hall at the Walter Sisulu University in Mthatha yesterday.
Landero, who was originally tagged to face Konkco’s stablemate Deejay Kriel before Kriel suffered an injury last month, was determined to make it a dogfight.
Having lost a rather debatable decision to WBA champion Thammanoon Niyomtrong in his last bout in March, Landero did not want the outcome of this fight to be decided by the judges.
He had told Filipino media back home that he would gun for a stoppage to avoid the robbery he had suffered in Thailand.
And from the first round, he stuck to his game plan, swinging for the fences. Not even setting up his bolo punches with jabs, he hit Konkco in all parts of his anatomy.
Konkco, who does not shy way from fierce combat, returned the favour, turning the contest into a wild swinging affair.
The script definitely did not follow the strategy of Konkco’s trainer, Colin Nathan.
Nathan was seen shouting at Konkco to use his head rather than brawling against the marauding visitor.Konkco appeared to gather his senses as his jab often disrupted Landero’s offence and allowed him to time his forays.
But the 10-year age gap between the two began to tell, as the 22-year-old Filipino never let up. Undeterred by his misses, all Landero wanted to do was to throw anything at his foe, even his pair of boxing trunks if he could.
In the middle rounds, Konkco started to bang Landero’s body, and for the first time in the fight, the Filipino appeared to be in distress.
The relentless pressure gradually subsided, while Konkco began to pick his punches well, drawing loud applause from the vociferous crowd.
But Landero knew there was only a remote chance of winning the title on points in enemy territory, so he resumed his swinging job.
But now the swings were aimless and Konkco would counter them with perfect hooks.
One such punch was an uppercut which landed well for the Mthatha-born champion.
By the final round, a desperate Landero gave it all he had.
But it was not enough, with all the judges retaining Konkco’s title with scores of 116-112 twice and 117-112.
In another bout, Makazole Tete continued his demise when he was soundly outboxed by Namibian Jonas Matheus in a clash for the vacant IBO international bantamweight title.
The Namibian had a relatively easy day in the ring as his opponent never showed any interest in fighting.
Instead, Tete would cover up in a neutral corner and allow Matheus to flail away.
All the judges gave the fight to Matheus with scores of 117-111 twice and 118-111.
Asandiswa Nxokwana was unlucky in her IBO intercontinental junior bantamweight title against Sharodeen Fortuin, with it declared a draw.
Nxokwana appeared to easily outbox Fortuin, whose stiffness was surprising as she is renowned for her fluid boxing style...