Ryno outfights Russian to the top
Ryno proved that he is capable of dealing with a higher calibre opponent and said: “I’m ready for the world."
* Photo Debbie Yazbek, by courtesy of Emperors Palace.
ALBERTON – Ryno Liebenberg continued his title trail by winning his fifth title in his 16th consecutive victory in the ring at the Silver Salvo tournament at Emperors Palace.
The main title fight for which everyone was waiting for was between the big attraction from Russia, Dennis Grachev, and South African unbeaten favourite boxer after 15 fights, Ryno Liebenberg, in a career-defining encounter for Ryno to stake his international claim.
Ryno rumbled to victory in this game of Russian roulette, where the harder the fight the harder Ryno brought it. In his toughest test in the ring
yet, he was trying to break down the Russian round by round. In the end, how close the fight really was, was reflected in the majority of the three judges’ scorecards of the fight of fights which went the full distance.
Ryno proved that he is capable of dealing with a higher calibre opponent and said: “I’m ready for the world.”
The tournament opener saw Gauteng’s Thabang Ramagole dominating from the start to cruise to his ninth win in 11 fights. He won a technical knockout victory within 38 seconds of the third round against Olwethu Ngamlana from Western Cape, who made his first appearance at Emperors Palace.
Ashley Dlamini returned after a lengthy lay-off to outbox previous South African amateur representative at several international games, Thanduxolo Gatweni, with a technical knockout in the first round.
In a comeback after nine months of inactivity, undefeated Kevin Lerena from the South in his 10th outing in the ring, outpointed former Argentinian champion Marco Antonio Aumada. The judges’ scorecards read 77-75, 78-74 and 79-73 in Lerena’s favour, and he is still undefeated.
Former IBO junior featherweight title holder Thabo Sonjica from Duncan Village, the home of boxing in the Eastern Cape, who did not make the weight requirement for the fight, was showcased against the title challenger, Roli Gasca from the Philippines, whose record read prior to the bout 22 wins, of which six knockouts in 27 fights, and got his second chance after losing his first title chance against Russian Alexander Bakhtin. Sonjica elevated his ring record to 20 wins in 22 fights when he blew the Philippine’s second title chance with a points victory. The judges’ scorecards read 116-109, 117-109 and 116-109.
