Wins for professional boxers Josh Cloete Junior, Owen Vengenayi, Jason Phaal, Jean Claude Dixon and Michael Makram set the tone at a well-attended boxing showcase at Vibrant Sports Studios, on Saturday, August 3.
For the first time in his emerging professional boxing career, Cloete Junior reached the fourth round when he beat Marko De Koker on points, in the featherweight division, at his home ground in Ottery.
What looked like an even battle in the opening round would perhaps sway in Cloete Junior’s favour in the second round, with good use of his left jab and body shots to his opponent.
Despite having two losses now, Koker had some advantage in the third round when he began to fight inside. As soon as he stopped the tactic, Cloete Junior took back the fight in the last round.
“Towards the second half of the fight it felt like I wasn’t connecting my body shot so I stopped. I wasn’t tired. I was slightly fatigued. My corner asked why did I stop?
“In the third round, I did enough to edge out points. He got some momentum and pushed a little towards the end. I am happy with the win but it’s back to the drawing board to reflect on the work that needs to be done,” said Cloete Junior.
It was promoter, Jack Brice’s fifth boxing showcase this year and his 15th event in the past three years.
Blood, Sweat and Tear’s Boxing Club’s Owen Vengenayi made it four out of four wins with a points’ decision victory against Harrison Mshua, from Tanzania.
Vengenayi went into the fight looking for an early knockout. Mshua survived and started causing problems for the Sea Point-based boxer. This was Vengenayi’s first featherweight fight after moving up the scale.
In the end, good advice and conditioning from his trainer and father, Felix, helped Vengenayi find some much-needed points to win the featherweight.
“The crowd is consistent, I can tell you now, the Lunga Sitemela and Aziz Kunert Fight on September 24 is going to be packed in Wynberg,” said Brice.
Bruceley Mugutso, from Semper Nobilis (SN) Boxing, made it two wins in two fights when he beat former six-time SA amateur champion Siphesande Luthuli in the first round of his professional boxing debut.
Mugutso knocked down Luthuli twice in the opening minute. As Mugutso rushed in to finish the job, Luthuli caught him with a straight punch to knock him down too. Seconds later, after referee Sipho Ndongeni counted Mugutso back into the fight, he connected a right hook to the temple that sent Luthuli straight to the canvas.
Fighting out of Brice’s Boxing Academy, Michael Markram made it five wins and three losses when he knocked out Khodani Nephalama from Limpopo in the light heavyweight division.
Brice said they have another bout already lined up for Markram in two months.
The sound of battle triumphed from the changing room for Jason Phaal ahead of his second professional debut fight and second-round knockout of DRC’s Jordon Ngwandu.
Ahead of the fight, the cruiserweight boxers had bad blood, following a video that went viral on social media from Ngwandu’s camp. At the end of the bout, boxing won its respect back.
Experienced super welterweight boxer, Cristiano Ndombassy headlined the event, fighting against Eastern Cape’s Sivenathi Nolawu.
The confident Nolawu got the better of Ndombassy, making it six wins, three losses and one draw, while Ndombassy moved to 13 wins and nine losses.
Jean Claude Dixon made a perfect debut with a third-round knockout win over Sydwell Goliath in the lightweight division.
Dixon was patient in his build-up, using the jab and left uppercut well in his arsenal of punches. Spotting a gap, the Hitman doubled up on his punches with a left body shot, uppercut and right hook combination that forced referee Oscar Noels to count Goliath out.
Brice said they look forward to the next boxing showdown, on Friday, August 30, in Ottery.
