The fights that enthralled and bemused
THE Xaba Promotions and Events (XPE) tournament at Orient Theatre last weekend was an explosive event with all but one bout living up to their hype.
The sizable crowd that turned up definitely got its money’s worth as all the boxers billed displayed their best performances. As is the norm Boxing Mecca will go through all the bouts and throw a curve ball. his zero professional fight record was seen. This was because Nqothole had proven his mettle by winning the gold medal from African Olympic qualifying championships. But did Daries prove everyone and his opponent wrong as he held his own in a gutsy performance against the house fighter. Unfazed by the big stage, Daries went on to work but it was his ability to jerk his head out of harm’s way that reminded some of Mbulelo Botile in his prime.
The only thing Daries lacked was a proper manager who should not have thrown him into a fight of that magnitude in his professional debut. Who knows what that loss might do to his psyche. As for Nqothole, his right hand is going to render most of his opponents senseless.
The way he turns it over as he propels it towards his opponent’s chin area is something of a beauty. Very few boxers can display such technique at that stage. was inferior to his foe he changed his strategy and resorted to applying pressure and that summarily flustered Moshani. By the time Moshani recovered it was already late and the outcome rendered by the judges truly reflected the action with one of them scoring the fight a draw while two other were impressed by Nyangani’s brief pressure applying strategy. But watch out for Moshani, he is going to make a serious noise in that mini-flyweight division. Nogogo came in with a big reputation in his professional debut and left with it intact. His technique honed at the amateur ranks was visible but he needs to relax a bit to set up his punches properly. But that will be part of development as his boxing is now still being influenced by the amateur style. Watch him, the region may finally have a world-beater in the welterweight division. especially to those who have witnessed his talent threatening to go to waste. It could not have happened to a deserving boxer who vowed before the fight that he would get his act together before it was too late.
It is one thing to talk up the fight but quite the other to back it up in the ring. Mcotheli fought as if his life depended on the outcome and the manner in which he took Mdletshe’s punches underlined his fitness.
While returning to his corner after that explosive third round, he pointed his fist to this scribe as if to say “I told you I got this” prompting me to automatically return the favour.
Hours after the fight Mdletshe was limping so bad one would have sworn that he had been run over by a truck. “dislocated my waist as I was throwing a punch after that I could hardly throw my right hand,” Mdletshe explained but forgot to add that those wicked body blows had something to do with it.