What was supposed to be a crowning moment for a new star turned out to be a hideous beating when veteran Ali Funeka forced youngster Uyanda Nogogo to turn his back in the sixth round of their action-packed junior middleweight contest at the Orient Theatre in East London on Sunday.
With a 40-year-old veteran pitted against a boxer half of his age, the bout exploded into action as soon as the opening bell sounded.
Funeka was expected to box from a distance but he opted to brawl with the youth.
The boxers continued to swap heavy leather, with the veteran more than willing to oblige.
Funeka, whose decision to fight had been frowned upon due to his age and his previous five consecutive losses, never looked his age as he dug deep and at times made Nogogo flinch.
As the bout progressed Nogogo, who has shown signs of low self-esteem in previous fights, gradually capitulated.
Funeka took over from the fifth round and floored the youngster. But in his fall Nogogo took Funeka down with him, confusing the referee who ruled the fall as a slip.
But it was obvious that Nogogo was done and in the sixth round Funeka charged at him throwing a barrage of punches that forced Nogogo to turn his back and quit.
"I said I taught Nogogo boxing so there was no way that he would beat me,” said Funeka afterwards. "He is still young. He must go back to school.”
"I admit that Funeka was too good today, I take my hat off to him,“ said a gracious Nogogo.
Other results saw amateur rivals Bangile Nyangani and Sibusiso Bandla fight on even terms, taking turns to dominate their six-round mini-flyweight bout with the judges unable to separate the winner.
Having fought four times in the amateur ranks, the due appeared to be familiar with each others’ styles.
Adopting a counter-punching approach, they sometimes swung wide and missed each other.
After the fight both boxers demanded a rematch, with the Mthatha-raised Bangani appealing for a title to be at stake.
A bizarre end was witnessed in the flyweight clash between Sinethemba Kotana and Zolile Miya.
This when Miya was counted out by referee Siya Vabaza-Booi, even though he appeared to have been felled by an illegal punch thrown while a break was being called.
Making matters more confusing was Vabaza-Booi’s decision to dock Kotana a point for the infringement.
But the outcome remained a knockout in the seventh round.
Landile Ngxeke knocked out Masixole Langa in two rounds of their flyweight duel.
Aphiwe Rasmeni prevailed on points over Abelo Tokhwe in their bantamweight clash while Lusizi Manzana stopped Tobelo Nukwa in one round of their flyweight contest...