Ness battles his way to clinch SA title

THE platform that is being built for boxers to show their talent in the boxing ring has been taken to a higher level.

Prospects at the Palace is now in its third edition. AfricanRing in conjunction with Golden Gloves Promotions staged Prospects at the Palace III on Sunday, July 25, at Emperors Palace, affording these youngsters a chance to showcase their skills in formidable fashion.

Shaun Ness and Ayanda Mthembu met for the South African welterweight title in the main bout of the afternoon’s proceedings. The two boxers slaughtered it out for the title over 12 rounds.

Fighting out of the Hot Box gymnasium with Colin Nathan as mentor, Ness gave account of his durability, and although Mthembu never gave an inch, he could not match his opponents’ accuracy. Both boxers took quite a lot of punishment in this bout and will hopefully take a step back before their next fight.

Ness won by unanimous decision by the judges 117-113, 115-114, 117-111.

Also coming out of the Nathan camp, Deejay Kriel faced Nyedisang Thagambega with one of South Africa’s best trainers in his corner, Harold Volbrecht, in a catch-weight bout. In a somewhat of a strange decision by the judges, Kriel got the upper hand and won by TKO. Being sent to the canvas twice, Kriel, was given the fight after Thagambega turned his back on Kriel, and the rules state that a boxer may not turn his back on his opponent. But Thagambega was apparently ahead on points at that stage when he attempted a punch, missed and spun around while Kriel was chasing him. Surely a rematch will be on the cards for these two boxers in future.

In the junior lightweight bout the Golden Gloves prospect, Lucky Mongebane made heavy weather of Caiphis Thomas. He only needed the first round to dispense of Thomas, winning by KO 2:53.

Thulani Mbenge showed his class when he got hold of Zenzile Mtanze, in the welterweight division over six rounds. Mbenge had the upper hand and was jabbing his opponent and planting some heavy right-hand shots until Mtanze’s corner threw in the towel. Mbenge won by TKO in the first round.

In a fair decision by the judges, Chaz Wasserman and Fiston Kabamba fought to a draw in their light heavyweight bout over four rounds. Both boxers are bound to go their separate ways making a name for themselves as they both have the qualities of becoming good boxers.

In the bantamweight division Ephraim Chauke, who towered over his smaller opponent Morapedi Khotle but never seemed to utilise this advantage, had to settle for a draw.

Opening the afternoon’s show, John Bopape had hapless Andile Mabilisa down three times to record his first win in the junior-middleweight bout by TKO.