Highs and lows for Primrose fighters at tournament
In the second round Koopman landed a solid left hook that sent Thysse to the canvas.
It was an evening of highs and lows for Primrose fighters when they competed in the Palace Knights Box and Dine Tournament held at Emperors Palace on September 1.
It saw several fighters from Edenvale-based Brian Mitchell Boxing Academy take to the ring.
South African Junior Middleweight champion Shervantaaigh Koopman of Primrose successfully defended his title against a spirited Brandon Thysse of Alberton.
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At the opening bell Koopman, who also trains at the academy, showed intent and came out quickly landing a good jab and straight right but Thysse was up to the challenge.
Thysse came back with a few of his combinations to stay in the fight.
In the second round, Koopman landed a solid left hook that sent Thysse to the canvas. The Alberton boxer managed to beat the count and although looking groggy managed to see out the round.
Although Koopman went after the challenger in the third, Thysse seemed to have recovered from his earlier knockdown and started coming back into the fight.
While Thysse went after Koopman in the fifth, the latter was back to his best and the two traded heavy hooks, uppercuts and straight rights for the next few rounds much to the delight of the enthusiastic crowd.
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The telling blow of the fight came in the eighth round when Koopman landed a big right which sent Thysse to the canvas for the second time.
While Thysse beat the count, Koopman landed another right which which put Thyse on the backfoot.
His corner decided to call it a day taking Thysse’s record to 15-4 while Koopman remains the champion and undefeated at 12-0.
Shervantaaigh Koopman’s younger brother Keanustepped into the ring against Odieu Dzabatou from the Congo in a welterweight contest, scheduled for six rounds.
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While Shervantaaigh, who also trains at the Brian Mitchell Boxing Academy, had won his four previous professional fights September 1 outing against Dzabatou did not go as well.
The latter proved too good sending him to the canvas in the second round resulting in the referee stopping the fight after 1:25.
This now takes the Primrose youngster to 4-1 while Dzabatou moves to 5-0.
