Super Charged tournament: Exciting boxing lifts spirits in South Africa

WHILE some of the pundits say that this is what South African boxing needs, others are still in the awakening phases.

The Super Charged tournament that was held at Emperors Palace on Saturday, March 19 proved the latter wrong.

In each of the four bouts there was the typical drama played out in the four corners of the ring. Of course, the main upset was delivered in the main fight card of the evening. In a somewhat subdued encounter, the crowd favourite, Hekkie Budler, could not withstand the hard punches directed to his body and face by his Nicaraguan opponent, Byron Rojas. He lost his WBA and IBO minimum-weight titles to Rojas on the evening and his record now reads a formidable 29 fights, 2 losses and 9 KO’s. Budler has now dropped to number four contender in the IBO rankings. Budler lost by unanimous points decision by the judges, 113/115, 113/115, 113/115.

This has, however, opened another window for boxers in South Africa. In light of the Rojas camp refusing to pay the IBO sanction fee, the IBO minimum-weight title became vacant and gave Golden Gloves promoter, Rodney Berman, the opportunity to pitch in a contest between Simphiwe Khonco, who lost to Budler recently, and Siyabonga Siyoy from the Eastern Cape. The new curtain will draw open in this weight division on Saturday, June 11 at Emperors Palace, when they climb into the ring for this coveted title.

Closer to home, Warren Joubert from Alberton did not fall into the same trap when he last fought Grant Fourie for the South African and WBA Interim Pan African junior welterweight title. The two battled it out for the third time, and no match can be found for this kind of precision boxing in collaboration with their corners, Colin Nathan and Harold Volbrecht, who are world-class trainers .

It was a chess game from start to finish, and Joubert and Fourie said that although they are best friends outside the ring, when it’s business time in the ring it’s every man for himself. Joubert brought back the title after a close encounter, winning on unanimous points decision by the judges, 115/113, 117/112, 117/111.

Paul Kamanga from the South had been tested to the bone by Roman Baleav from Russia for the WBA Pan African welterweight title, and the carrot in front of him of going to Las Vegas in May was put on a longer rope. Berman said his triumph over the Russian was not good enough and the message is clear: make some adjustments and begin dominating in a proper manner.

The Russian was not outsmarted. He blasted Kamanga in an unorthodox manner and showed what European boxing is all about. But Kamanga is still young at heart and will bounce back, boxing smart to overcome typical boxing from the USA if the chance comes his way again.

In an emotional fight, Joshua Studdard from the South paid tribute to his late father, Rocky, when he faced Morapedi Khotle in the junior bantam weight bout over six rounds. Studdard showed effectiveness in his style of boxing and won by unanimous points decision by the judges, 58/56, 58/56, 59/55.

The charming 24-year old with only four outings in the ring made a good impression in his first appearance at a big tournament and will be remembered by the seasoned pundits.

This is what South African boxing is all about – great fights for a sell-out crowd, leaving them looking forward to the next bouts, which will take place on Sunday, April 24 at Emperors Palace, staged by AfricanRing in conjunction with Golden Gloves promotions. Book your seat.