Ngantweni Mnguni’s boxer promises to give of his very best proving he is full of surprises
Poor ring record fooling many a tough opponent
MEET Loyiso Ngantweni, the boxer whose losses almost triple his wins. On paper he looks like a safe journeyman especially at an advanced age of 34 years old, to pad up fight records of rising stars.
So deceptive is his resume of 13 losses with just five wins that many a promoter have approached him hoping to build up the records of their unbeaten stars only to get the shock of their lives.
The latest to fall prey is Siphosethu Ncisane who took the fight against Ngantweni although he had already been offered a big fight against Johannesburg prospect Deejay Kriel for the latter’s WBC silver mini-flyweight title on October 21.
Ncisane who sported an impressive record of a single loss in 10 bouts did not see the need to withdraw from the already agreed clash against Ngantweni, feeling the boxer would serve as a rust-removing assignment for the Kriel bout.
He went ahead and fought Ngantweni in Willowvale in an Isizwe Boxing Promotions show last weekend.
Two rounds later, Ncisane’s gamble had not only backfired but it had exploded in his face after getting iced in brutal fashion.
Besides surrendering his reputation of having never been stopped in his career, he also forfeited his WBF International belt which had enticed Kriel’s promoter Rodney Berman to give him a shot at his charge’s silver belt.
Ncisane would have replaced Mdantsane veteran Nkosinathi Joyi who turned down the Kriel clash crying short notice.
In order to prepare for the biggest fight of his career, the Port Elizabeth boxer felt a warm-up bout against Ngantweni would maximise his chances of showcasing his talent at the big Emperors Palace stage.
But someone forgot to tell Ngantweni that he was supposed to be a stepping stone.
With veteran trainer and namesake Loyiso Mtya in his corner, Ngantweni blitzed Ncisane via a terrific knockout that left his handlers shaking their heads in sheer disbelief.
Mtya was the only one not surprised by the outcome and is now pushing for his boxer to get an opportunity to crush Kriel. “Why not?” barked Mtya. “Ngantweni is more than ready for anyone in the mini-flyweight.”
But when Ngantweni’s name was offered to Berman, the same scorn that had characterised arguments with boxing authorities for his approval when seeing his poor fight record, repeated itself.
“No this guy cannot be a worthy opponent for Kriel let alone getting approved by the WBC to challenge for its silver title with a fight record like this.”
But how come a boxer with such a poor record is now beating up opponents?
The truth lies in Ngantweni’s illtreatment when he was trying to follow his boxing career in Johannesburg.
This when he took every bout that came his way, many at short notice of just a few days.
Not only was he used as a stop-gap opponent but he would even be forced to fight as a featherweight.
Mind you the difference between his natural mini-flyweight division – the lightest weight class in boxing– and featherweight is so massive that boxers fighting in the two weights should not be allowed to spar with each other let alone compete in the ring.
Having won just once before coming home to join Mtya, Ngantweni has now racked up three wins in a row all by stoppages after kick-starting his resurrection mission with a destruction of Abongile Tipa at the Orient Theatre last September.
Those who have seen him in action such as Kholisile Cengani know that he should not be touched even by a 50foot pole.
“He has tremendous power and unless your boy has trained properly you should never take him lightly,” Cengani said after watching Ngantweni spar with his boxers.
“I think the fact he has been fighting in different divisions is helping him to maximise his power.”
While some will continue to fall prey to Ngantweni’s heavy hands, his record will be a stumbling block from getting approved for title fights until he completely sheds his journeyman stigma.
After all Joyi was used as a stepping stone by Filipino Rey Loreto, who had also lost 13 times, to transition from journeyman to world title contender. SO much has been said about Phila Mpontshane being the only champion at Mzi Mnguni’s stable.
Indeed Mpontshane remains the only boxer holding a national title at the legendary Eyethu Boxing Club previously renowned for producing world acclaimed boxers and a bevy of national champions.
Due to his first name which translates ‘to get well’, Mpontshane has been the shining light in the club whose owner is recuperating after a heart attack that left him wheelchair bound.
However there are useful boxers at the club, including one Xolisa Magusha who holds the provincial title in the mini-flyweight division.
Magusha has been going about doing his business quitely, often featuring in tournaments held in obscure environment.
This has helped him to build his fight record of just two losses in 11 bouts.
Due to Mnguni’s relationship with Johannesburg promoter Rodney Berman with whom he produced so many world champions, Magusha has already featured in a tournament held under the bright lights of Johannesburg although he was used mostly as an opponent to pad Berman’s fighter Deejay Kriel.
Fighting at Emperors Palace for the first time, Magusha was understandably overwhelmed by the occasion.
But he left an indelible mark after he took Kriel into deep waters in a battle that swung to and fro until the house fighter escaped on points.
Magusha put the disappointing loss behind him when he blew away Mthatha boxer Solwethu Sithupha in Willowvale a fortnight ago to retained his provincial title.
“I could not wait to wipe the distaste that was left by my loss to Deejay Kriel,” he said.
Magusha’s determination to erase the Deejay disappointment was evident when he was already within the limit at the pre-medical of his Sithupha bout.
Trained by former SA flyweight champion Ncedo Cecane, the hard punching boxer wants nothing more than bringing another national title to the legendary club.
And he is drawing inspiration from the fact the national mini-flyweight title was first won by a boxer training at his club.
This when Sogcwe, who had campaigned in the junior flyweight before his brief hiatus, made a return in the newly created weight class in 1992.
Sogcwe beat Zolile Ngantweni to become the first ever champion in the mini-flyweight division.
“Yes I know about that history and it motivates me to return this title back home,” Magusha said.
The division would later form a crucial part of Mnguni’s boxing involvement as it also added other champions to the legendary club such as Lindi Memani who held the title in 1996.
But it was the stunning upset of another Mnguni produced boxer Zolani Petelo, which defined of the legendary club of the title.
This when Petelo won the IBF crown via stoppage over Thai legend Anucha Phothong in Thailand in 1997.
Another boxer who would make his mark by winning the title under Mnguni was a skinny Nkosinathi Joyi who pole-axed Mziyakise Foslarha of Port Elizabeth to announce his arrival to the boxing scene.
While it would be far fetched to expect Magusha to follow in the footsteps of such luminary boxers, he is determined to give it a massive try.