Local boxers star with good wins
It was a clean sweep for Xaba Promotions’ boxers who produced outstanding performances to outwit their foes at Orient Theatre on Friday night.
Whilst all the bouts looked evenly matched on paper it was a totally different story in the ring when the Xaba boxers cruised to stoppage victories. Yanga Sigqibo was the only one whose outcome had to be decided by the judges, although his dominance over Nicaraguan fighter Keyvin Lara in their IBO Intercontinental junior-bantamweight title clash was evident from the beginning.
Sigqibo displayed a surprisingly gutsy performance against the rampant visitor who was aggressive throughout their 12 round clash.
With his corner manned by Miniyakhe Sityatha while his real trainer Welcome Ncita did television commentary, Sigqibo fought like his handlers used to fight during their boxing days.
He used brains rather than brawn by making Lara miss his shots while picking the Nicaraguan apart with crisp punches.
The Duncan Village star was not deterred by having to fight on the back foot and surprisingly maintained a composed demeanour throughout.
All three judges handed him the nod with scores of 117-112, 116-112 and 117-111 for an outcome that was rigorously protested by Lara's camp.
There was no dispute in Athi Dumezweni’s impressive stoppage of the Mexican Ulises Lara in their WBA international junior-bantamweight title clash.
The left handed Dumezweni was in control and closed the show with a picture-perfect uppercut induced stoppage.
Former IBF mini-flyweight champion Nkosinathi Joyi knocked out Mpho Seforo with a body blow in seven rounds to breath new life into his career and picked up the WBO Africa junior-flyweight crown.
Marios Mantamba from DR Congo did likewise to Siseko Makeleni in their junior-welterweight title encounter.
Nhlanhla Tyirha knocked out Bongani Silila in four rounds to lift the SA junior-flyweight title challenge in only his fourth professional fight.
The win equalled a 69-year-old record of a boxer winning a national title in only his fourth professional fight...
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