Karabo Mokupi in sensational KO thriller

The young Modimolle-based lightweight Karabo Mokupi punched his way to a sensational knockout against Johannes Lesiba, only on his second fight as a professional.

The lightweight division fight was part of the Sweet Science for Ghetto Greatness event staged at the Kagiso Memorial & Recreation Centre last Saturday 28 July.

The two boxers sized up each other over the first two rounds, jabbing and exchanging some stinging blows.

In the third round, Mothupi (20) suddenly sprang to life, attacking Lesiba with more grit, with left and right combinations, uppercuts and overhead attacks.

In response Lesiba tried to punch his way back, missing with straight jabs, left and right hooks, both to the head and body.

As the two men exchanged leather towards the end of the third round, Lesiba was caught with a sledgehammer, which sent him sprawling on the canvas.

He failed to beat the referee’s mandatory count, with Mokupi declared the KO winner of his second pro fight.

Mokupi’s trainer, Peet Oberholzer, said in a post-fight interview that he was impressed by his boxer’s progress.

He acknowledged that Lesiba was a good pound-for-pound brawler, but still Mothupi dominated the first two rounds, until the killer punch in the third round.

— The BEAT