Boxing fans were treated to another feast of punches at the 11th Young Gladiators event at Blairgowrie Recreation Centre.
Cheers rang out from the audience as ferocious hits were heard (and practically felt) by those watching the six professional bouts in a packed hall on 20 October.
The fights ranged from featherweight and bantamweight all the way to heavyweight, and every one of them had its drama.
Once again, the local Linden boxing outfit, Alan Toweel Boxing Gym, was not shy in putting boxers forward.
Five of Toweel’s best fighters entered the ring on the day and three of them won their fights.
“I am very happy with the results and I have no problem with [super middleweight fighter] Frank Rodrigues’ loss,” Toweel said afterwards.
“It was [junior featherweight fighter] Rorithe [Randima]’s loss that was an issue for me. He started well but faded at the end and if you keep losing badly it might be time to stop boxing because you could get hurt if you continue in your career.”
Rodrigues lost to Alex Kabangu on a split decision. Two years ago he lost to the same fighter by a knockout in the first round.
Toweel said this showed improvement and he and Rodrigues counted it as a win.
The main bout of the day saw Toweel’s Akani ‘ Prime’ Phuzi, the World Boxing Association Pan African champion, beat Vikapita Meroro from Namibia by unanimous decision from the judges.
“This was not a title defence fight but will be good experience for Akani,” Toweel added.
Heavyweight fighter, Wilhelm ‘Dragon’ Nebe also beat Danny Ngokwey of the Democratic Republic of Congo by split decision.
“Wilhelm is improving and he has some way to go in gaining stamina but I am prepared to work with him for 10 years if we need to.”
In a fast-paced bantamweight fight, Rofhiwa Nemushungwa beat Cleutus Mbhele by technical knockout in the eighth and final round after he opened a cut on his opponent’s eye that would not stop bleeding and obscured Mbhele’s vision, forcing the referee to intervene.
