The lanky Funeka was ahead 109-100 and 105-104 but trailing 104-105 on the third card when the bout was halted because of a nasty cut above Belaev’s eye right eye.
The Russian sustained the injury in arguably the bout’s most entertaining round, the 10th, when Funeka put him under immense pressure with an array of blows, much to the crowd’s pleasure.
Funeka did not leave the bout unscathed, however, with the feisty Belaev (26) landing his own multiple shots to the 36-year-old’s head despite his height disadvantage.
The result subjected the Russian to his first professional defeat, falling to 14-1 including ten knockouts. Funeka’s record improved to 31-3, including three draws and 25 knockouts.
In the night’s introductory fight, Mbulelo Nxazonke of Indwe stunned crowd-favourite Thabang Ramagole in the fifth of their eight-round junior flyweight clash.
The two produced a bout of two halves, with Soweto’s Ramagole dominating the first two rounds and the early stages of the third.
Ramagole looked to be on the money when he delivered a round house right in the second round which left Nxazonke on the floor – albeit temporarily.
The latter recovered, however, and delivered a heavy blow of his own in Ramagole’s midsection area in the fifth round, leaving him dazed. Sensing victory, Nxazonke followed-up with a barrage of punches before the official put a stoppage after one minute, 28 seconds. – @SabeloBoksburg
