North Riding boxer Kaine ‘K9’ Fourie (23) annihilated Siseko Makeleni with a first-round knockout to win the IBF Continental Junior Lightweight belt on July 13.
The talented and fearless Fourie knocked down Makeleni twice before delivering the final blow with 10 seconds left in round one. Makeleni (33) from Mdantsane, Eastern Cape, went down for the first time and beat the count. A hook from Fourie sent him down for the second time and again he showed resilience and got up in time. But the end was near as Fourie’s signature blow landed perfectly and sent Makeleni to slumberland.
Fourie has knocked out eight of his 10 opponents. “The game plan was to let the jab work overtime in the first minute or so and then just follow up after the jab and that is exactly what happened,” said Fourie.
“He opened up and I landed a left hook. It feels surreal to know I’m the best in Africa and I have the IBF title. We got what we trained for that night with hard work.”
He added he spent three months in camp preparing for the fight. “It was the best camp ever. I knew this guy would not go rounds with me. People said he would go rounds but my coach Gert Strydom knew not one South African guy could stop us in what we do.”
Fourie added that it was his most important win so far. “From now it will only get harder, but we know it and that’s why we train harder every single camp we do and take every fight like a world title fight.”
Fourie used the opportunity to call on British promoter Eddie Hearn to sign him. “Hearn is one of the biggest promotors in the world. I called him to sign the best lightweight in Africa.”
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