Lentegeur junior welterweight impresses in debut pro fight

Lentegeur junior welterweight Mika-eel Jacobs, 19, announced his arrival on the pro-boxing scene in spectacular fashion when he beat Malawi’s Mayamiko "Tyson" Mozland in his debut Fight Island bout, at Cabo Beach, at the Waterfront, on Saturday.

On a night packed with top-tier boxing action, Jacobs and Mozland produced a fight-of-the-night performance from the first round to the sixth and final round. Jacobs made his intention clear early on, sending his opponent to the canvas twice in the first round. Although somewhat evenly matched in the early stages, Jacobs gradually took control thanks to solid footwork and speedy fists. Distracted by a loose drawstring, Jacobs briefly dropped his arms in the second round, which might have landed him in trouble.

Thankfully, Mozland, in true sporting spirit, allowed him to fix his shorts without launching an all-out assault when the opportunity presented itself.

The more experienced of the two, Mozland, with three professional fights under his belt, seemed to have the upper hand for a period in the third round, landing a solid right hand that caught Jacobs off-guard, sending him into the ropes for a split second. 

However, Jacobs recovered quickly, regained his composure, and replied with a few solid hits of his own.

Light on his feet and not afraid to get up close and personal, Jacobs kept the Malawian at bay with a few telling blows to the body. His opponent, first out of the corner in the fourth, seemingly on a mission to make it the last round, came up against a cool, calm, and collected Jacobs, who picked his punches carefully and landed shots where it mattered most. In the penultimate round, Jacobs appeared much more relaxed and calculated, stitching together a few decent combinations to keep the judges' tally in his favour.

Mozland appeared dangerous until the final bell signaled the end of a very entertaining bout, but ultimately, Jacobs’ superior performance on the night saw him get the judges’ nod.

“Saturday was one of the best highlights of my life,” said Jacobs.  “I fought my toughest opponent and one of the best fighters in South Africa in the division (63.5kg) and won by decision. We fought six rounds and went the distance. I felt in control because I dominated most of the rounds,” he said.

A fan of the American and WBA lightweight champion, Gervonta Davis, Jacobs says he hopes to get a shot at fighting for an SA title in the not-too-distant future.

Trainer Ashley Whiteboy, founder of Whiteboy Boxing Academy, believes the young fighter can go all the way.

“He’s dedicated, disciplined, and willing to work hard, said Whiteboy, who has worked with Jacobs for the past few years. Whiteboy, who operates from his home in Westridge, said a lack of proper training facilities makes it difficult to unearth the next champion from the area.

With his family name respected in boxing circles, Whiteboy certainly knows a thing or two about champions. “I saw potential in him from the word go. He had a few amateur fights, and he did well in all of them,” said Whiteboy, quick to pay tribute to Jacobs’ former mentor, Mitchell’s Plain Kickboxing Club head coach, Jeremy Petersen, who guided him to an impressive record in the kickboxing arena where he was crowned Cape Town District champion, Western Cape champion and South African champion in his division.

Like Whiteboy, Petersen has nothing but praise for Jacobs. “It was such a pleasure coaching him as he is a very disciplined and self-motivated individual. His consistency in training and never-give-up attitude are evident in his achievements and accolades.

For Jacobs, it’s all about putting in the hard yards. “I always loved combat sports but also had a passion for boxing,” said Jacobs.

“So I started building experience in kickboxing before I transitioned to boxing,” he said.

“I love the fact that it’s an individual sport, and I love the feeling of victory after all the hard work and dedication that I put into training sessions,” said Jacobs.