BLOW by BLOW
XP’s weekend double billing lives up to expectations
BIG-time boxing returned to the city with two explosive shows taking place at Orient Theatre last Friday and Sunday.
Xaba Promotions and Rumble Africa Promotions have resumed their habit of organising tournaments in one weekend. While this practice has been frowned upon by some fans, they did not seem to mind at all, as they came out in droves to support the double bill weekend.
As it is the norm, we will analyse the XP show and give fans a run-down of all the bouts. 1. SESETHU ‘NTLOKO’ MENZIWA v SABELO NKOSI
This was an interesting debut for both fighters.
But the manner in which they slugged it out pointed to the long rivalry between them. They fought like seasoned campaigners, delivering an impressive display of skill.
Southpaw Menziwa appeared to measure up Nkosi as he barged in from the get-go, but the latter boxer’s relentless pressure kept the heat on Menziwa.
When Nkosi started ramming home a bombardment of body blows, the writing was on the wall.
Menziwa, who trains at Xaba Boxing Club under the tutelage of former boxers Makwedinana Matiti and Miniyakhe Sityatha, threw in the towel while still on his stool at the beginning of the third round.
A simple analysis of this fight is that this was perhaps a wise move by Menziwa, who clearly felt the odds were heavily stacked against him.
Despite this, the consensus is that he will come back stronger – if he puts his mind to it.
When the question was put to Nkosi’s trainer Thembani Gopheni, if there was any kind of fierce rivalry between the pair, purely judging from the manner they went at each other, he said: “Not really but I know Menziwa’s weaknesses.”
2. UYANDA NOGOGO v ONKE DUKU
Nogogo’s loss to Mxiwoxolo Ndwayana in his last bout seems to have inflicted more damage than people imagined.
The boy’s confidence is gone and he does not believe in himself anymore.
For example, one moment in the fight, when someone from his corner yelled advice to him during the fight, he took his eyes off his opponent to see who it was, who was advising him. It just seems that Nogogo has somehow lost his swagger, which at times bordered on arrogance – and which had worked for him.
But for his handlers to throw him into the ring for an eight-rounder could easily have been a short-sighted move. The view is that Nogogo’s bout should have been over six rounds – or even four rounds.
Clearly on wobbly legs in the sixth round, he dropped his hands while listening to advice from his promoter. Though he did win the fight, he made heavy weather of beating his opponent.
The 18-year-old’s handlers need to allow the boxer leeway to make mistakes – and learn from them.
The youngster possesses the talent to go far in his chosen sport.
3. MARIOS ‘DYNAMITE’ MATAMBA v GIFT BHOLO
This was an interesting clash of contrasting styles which was intriguing and lovely to watch, until an outrageous low-blow by the Congolese Matamba turned the clash on its head. Bholo was fighting a disciplined bout, coming in behind a jab, while Matamba’s athleticism – rather than sticking to boxing basics – allowed him to hit the mark with punches from awkward angles.
When Matamba landed a blow below the belt in the third, an enraged Bholo pointed out that it was deliberate.
When action resumed, he abandoned everything that had worked for him and resorted to fighting things out, rather than using boxing skills.
This backfired on him, and he was picked apart by the agile Congolese who is blessed with slick counterpunching ability.
Bholo was dropped hard in the seventh – and then his rage got the better of him. Matamba gave no quarter and charged at him and nailed him with wicked blows that forced referee Simpiwe Mbini to bring the fight to a premature end.
4. YANGA SIGQIBO v SABELO NGEBIYANE
This was another clash of contrasting styles.
Sigqibo’s awkward boxing stance, allows him to get away with quick punches every time his opponent commits to one.
This approach worked well against aging Mfundo Gwayana and Lindile Tshemese, but Ngebiyane came in determined to make him fight.
Ngebiyane nailed his opponent with some clean blows but Sigqibo never flinched – instead he returned the favour, raining down blows of his own on his rival.
Ngebiyane’s corner complained about the decision that went against him, but to me, he fell seriously short in his bid to annex the title.
5. SIMPIWE VETYEKA v THOMPSON MOKWANA
After the first two rounds, Vetyeka appeared to be losing the battle of the jabs which was predicted as the crucial areas on these pages last week.
Mokwana’s stick seemed to be landing with authority, while Vetyeka relied on his counter-punching.
But once “V12” Vetyeka warmed up, there was no stopping him.
He exhibited a blend of boxing nous few people thought he had.
Boxers like Vetyeka are the reason the sport of boxing is sometimes called “sweet science”.
When they ply their craft in the ring, it is like watching a skilled artist at work, so much so that one forgets that they are actually inflicting pain on another human being.
Vetyeka answered plenty of questions following his victory. The most important one being his punching power in the new divisions. His punches are launched with such force that lightweights who watched the fight must be shaking in their boxing boots.
6. MXOWOXOLO NDWAYANA v NTUTHUKO MEMELA
One boxer who seems to have learnt something from a defeat is Ndwayana after his loss to stablemate Thulani Mbenge.
Ndwayana has abandoned his blood-thirsty style to focus on the boxing side of things.
His jab to the midsection of his opponent proved to be like kryptonite to Nogogo in their last bout.
He prodded Memela to the body before unleashing a sweeping left hook in close quarters.
The result was a chilling knockout which had medical personnel rushing in to the ring to revive Memela.