Hard-hitting action at Fightstar 19

Audiences were treated to an evening of explosive action at theis weekend’s Fightstar 19.

With a fight card filled to the hilt with enthusiastic fighters, each eager to make their mark, Saturday’s event, at St John’s Hellenic Hall, in Wychwood, didn’t disappoint.

It was also announced at the event that Rudi Roets, the number one amateur fighter in the world, would be making the move to professional.

Fightstar 19 boasted a total of 16 fights, including a female encounter.

The event allowed the competing athletes the chance to develop their skills in a quality professional-amateur (Pro-Am) competition environment, as well as offering the perfect platform on which to showcase their skills.

The final match on the programme was a title bout, with Mzamo Madlopha and Allen Visser competing for the Fightstar bantamweight title.

The match, which was meant to be a five-round bout, appeared to be ending in early disappointment for Madlopha when Visser pinned him to the hexagon’s floor and rained a series of punches down on him.

However, he surprised everyone when he fought back and won the match three minutes and 45 seconds into the first round, by submission from a rear naked choke hold.

Another notable match came in the women’s flyweight match-up between Imke-Marisona Smit and Antoinette Visser.

Fightstar is actively encouraging more women to become involved in the sport and fights like this showcase the skill these women have.

Visser landed the first powerful punch of the bout, but was unable to defend against Smit’s fast-paced attack and was pinned to the ground.

Smit was declared the winner of the match, by a technical knock-out (TKO), 55 seconds into the first round.

Other results:

•  Richard Burger won his match against Aldo Booysen by judges’ decision, the fight was scored 30/27 and 29/28.

•  Luan du Rant won his match against Wayde Kerspury by a split judges’ decision, the fight was scored 29/28, 30/27 and 28/29.
•  Hein Pavier won his fight against Jimmy James by judges’ decision, the fight was scored 29/28, 30/27 and 27/30.

•  Nkosi Ndebele won his match against Lecture Gumbi by TKO, one minute and 59 seconds into the third round.
•  Tito van der Berg beat Wayne Prinsloo 40 seconds into round two by TKO.
•  Mickey Cloete won his match against Johannes Rudolph by judges’ decision, all three judges scored the fight 30/27.
•  Isaack Lombard was able to win his match against Jason Holtzhaus by submission by the rear naked choke hold two minutes and 46 seconds into the first round.
•  Orlando Mashaba won his match against Katiso Matime one minute and 47 seconds into the second round with a rear naked choke hold submission.
• Stephen de le Rey won his match against Trezeguet Kanyinda after Kanyinda was disqualified for gouging de le Rey’s eyes.

Previous Fightstar tournaments:

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Titles on the line at Fightstar 9