Mchunu crowned dual champion
Thabiso ‘The Rock’ Mchunu claimed the vacant South African and African Boxing Union (ABU) cruiserweight titles as he proved too hard a nut to crack for Johnny ‘The Hurricane’ Muller on Saturday, June 10.
The two featured in the 12-round main event of Golden Gloves’ Hurtin’ for Certain latest showpiece, which took place at Emperors Palace.
The champion, 29, who was sharper, quicker and stronger, improved his professional record to 18-4; 12, while Muller dropped to 20-8-2; 14.
Mchunu’s powerful and damaging blows, especially in the early rounds, set the tone for his unanimous decision win, and gave full credit to the judges’ scores, who all saw it as 120-108.
In the evening’s other title fight, local Simphiwe Khonco completed a second successive defence of his IBO strawweight title when he comfortably outscored Filipino Lito Dante.
The champion was never troubled throughout the bout as his experience and skills shone through to improve his record to 18-5; 7. Dante, 27, fell to 13-4; 7.
The three officials scored the fight 119-109 twice and 118-110 all in favour of the 30-year-old champion.
In the most entertaining clash of the night by quite a distance, South African middleweight champion Lee Dyer and Alfonzo Tissen fought to an absorbing 12-round draw for the vacant ABU super-middleweight belt.
The result saw Tissen’s record change to 10-1-2; 5, and Dyer’s to 7-3-2; 6.
Elsewhere, South African welterweight champion Thulani Mbenge was taken the distance for the first time to leave his record at 10-0-1; 10.
The champion outscored Jay Inson from the Philippines over eight disappointing rounds. It came as no surprise that Mbenge was taken all the way as both pugilists came into the bout undefeated.
Inson’s record dropped to 13-1; 9. – @SabeloBoksburg
