Kamanga wins tough encounter against Baloyi
Paul kamanga and Willers Baloyi in a junior-welterweight fight exchanging punches
KEMPTON PARK – Paul Kamanga overcame a tough test when he fought Willers Baloyi in a junior-welterweight fight at the ever popular African Ring Box ‘n Dine.
Raise the Bar boxing tournament was presented by African Ring in conjunction with Golden Gloves Promotions and Emperors Palace on Monday September 30.
“We didn’t know a lot about Willers, but he gave Paul a good match and now we know what we have to move towards our next fight,” said Anton Gilmore from Box Office.
Kamanga met the toughest opponent of his short professional boxing career in the junior-welterweight division, but managed to step up and win on a unanimous points decision by the judges. The judges score card read 59/55, 59/55, 58/56.
Kamanga, fighting out of the Box Office camp, started off on a good note and soon showed his boxing skills. But Baloyi who had Manny Fernandes from BRD Boxing Academy in his corner went on to become a much stiffer opponent for Kamanga than he opted for. This was one of the two fights of the night that the boxing fraternity enjoyed the most.
In the other closely contested bout Alfonso Tissen from Alberton was well matched in the junior-middleweight division with Tyron Koen. Tissen had his work cut out on the evening and delivered an excellent display of boxing to the full house. Under the watchful eye of Gert Strydom he won on a split decision 58/56, 56/58, 59/55.
In the main bout of the evening Jason Bedeman from the South was rocked by former world champion Ali Funeka in the junior-welterweight division. The first knock down from Funeke came in the very first few seconds when Bedeman received a right hand to put him down. Only minutes later Bedeman once again was brought down by a righthand cross from Funeka which meant the end of his fight. Funeka went into the ring being the more experienced fighter of the two. Bedeman, who is now fighting from Manny Fernandes BRD Boxing Academy, had youth on his side, but was stunned by the powerful punching power from his opponent. Funeka won by KO in the first round 2:46.
In the other contests of the evening Adam de Moor from Colin Nathan Hot Box gym was impressive in the junior-welterweight division when he stopped Luyanda Jako in the 10 seconds in to the fifth round by KO.
New kid on the block Ricardo Hiraman also won by KO in the fourth round 56seconds against William Baloyi in the featherweight bout.
