Xolisani Ndongeni beat veteran boxer Mzonke Fana, to win the World Boxing Association (WBA) Pan African Lightweight title at Emperors Palace on Saturday last week.
It was a split decision. Two judges scored the fight 115 to 113 to Ndongeni, while another said it was a 114 draw.
Fana is a former two-time, International Boxing Federation (IBF) Junior Lightweight Champion and he came to the fight with 69 fights with 34 wins, 15 of those though knock-outs (KO).
Ndongeni, the former South African Lightweight Champion, came to the fight with 15 professional fights and 15 wins.
Though some boxing experts cast doubts on Fana, he proved that he still has a lot to offer to boxing fans.
At 23, Ndongeni continues to show that he is a force to be reckoned with.
In the International Boxing Organisation (IBO) Lightweight title, Tommy “Tommy Gun” Oosthuizen beat Robert Berridge from New Zealand on points.
Tommy Gun won with the unanimous decision of 116-112, 117-111 and 117-111.
After he was found to be overweight on Friday, Tommy Gun’s promoter, Rodney Berman, was quoted as saying, “Tommy has let everyone down yet again. It is disappointing. What I fail to understand is that nobody had the decency to come and tell us there was an issue. We had to find out when he was on the scales.”
Not making the required weight, it meant that Tommy Gun would not win the title. Even though he won the fight, he is not a champion and he was unable to take 30 percent of his winnings.
In the boxing fraternity, there are talks that he has indiscipline tendencies. During the fight, Tommy had to endure a heavy beating. He was caught with his hands down several times. It is yet to be confirmed if he is still going to fight in November at Monte Carlo as scheduled.
Johnny “The Hurricane” Muller beat Mateusz Masternak, to win the International Cruiserweight title.
Judges scored the fight 95-93, 95-93 for Muller and 93-95 for Masternak.
The Hurricane is the former South African Light-heavyweight Champion.
He won this fight with a cut below the left eye and a bleeding mouth. His fighting spirit was enough to pull him through the forward-fighting Masternak.
The shortest fight was between Luyanda Jako and Roman Zhailauov from Khazakstan, for the International Welterweight title.
Luyanda was caught by a right body punch, followed by another quick right to the chin.
He had to be examined by the medics for more than five minutes in the ring.
Even after that, he managed to walk to the changing rooms with the medical team and his corner closely watching him.
