Fireworks shatter the calm serenity of Palace
THERE is something about boxing tournaments held at Emperors Palace.
If one is used to the carnival atmosphere of Orient Theatre attending tournaments at Emperors Palace is just a different kettle of fish all together. The atmosphere is so subdued that one can even hear a needle drop.
This was the case with last weekend tournament headlined by Mdantsane’s Thulani Mbenge. Staged as box and dine which is a popular phenomenon in Gauteng, the show drew a big crowd minus the electric atmosphere.
We analyse the tournament and the bouts.
1. AYABONGA SONJICA TKO 1 TUMELO MATSANE
Sonjica, a former Olympian who hails from Duncan Village, seems to have adopted the fighting style of his older brother Thabo, a former IBO world and SA champion.
He fights from the southpaw stance like his sibling and also seems to be making some of his mistakes. But Ayabonga is still developing as a fighter with his fight against Matsane only his fourth.
He, however, displayed the same killer instinct of his sibling as well as his penchant for working the body which finished Matsane in only 1.50 seconds of the fight. It was a good win for Sonjica popularly known as Jay Jay and there is no doubt that he is destined for big things.
2. ROWAN CAMPBELL TKO 8 MALKHAZ SUJASHVILI
So much noise was made about Campbell with comparisons with Charlie Weir also being drawn. For his part Campbell boxed a disciplined fight and did not seem in a hurry to score a knockout. He bided his time and when his Georgian foe was ready to go he closed the show in emphatic fashion. “This boy is going places,” wailed his promoter Rodney Berman who staged the fight. “Remember he has no amateur background to speak of.”
The win was Campbell’s seventh and sixth by a stoppage. Not a bad run for someone who never boxed as an amateur.
3. WADE GROTH W 6 ANDILE MNTUNGWA
This was the only fight that ended on points and the majority decision seemed to be giving Mntungwa every benefit of close rounds as Wade appeared to have easily won the fight. It was a record and confidence building fight for Groth with nothing else to speak about.
4. THABISO MCHUNU TKO6 RICARDS BOLOTNIKS
Going to the fight, Mchunu’s next bout was already arranged against Thomas Oosthuizen who was at ringside. But Mchunu made heavy weather of Bolotniks who showed nothing special but surprisingly had his moments in an even bout.
There is something about Mchunu. Either he does not take boxing serious anymore or he is not hungry enough. Up until he ended the fight with that good uppercut the fight was a seesaw. This influenced pundits to pick Oosthuizen to beat him on September 1.
But looking at Oosthuizen who appeared to have downed quite a few judging by his hyper-activism, Mchunu might prevail in that battle of southpaws. Oosthuizen has been part-timing boxing for a while and he has not had a meaningful fight.
While Mchunu’s latest run is not impressive either but his activity may carry him through. Bottom line is the two boxers appear to be evenly matched right now.
5. THULANI MBENGE KO 7 DIEGO CHAVES
Chaves’ short sneaky left hook when Mbenge was about to throw the right had his fans holding their breath. “Phew I was also worried about that punch,” Mbenge’s trainer Sean Smith admitted afterwards. But when the taller Mbenge used his reach advantage and stopped fighting on the inside Chaves’ offence suddenly ebbed.
But it was the knockout that took everyone by surprise. Mbenge did not jab but he stuck out his left jab to measure Chaves obviously paving A way to throw the right hand. On the other hand Chaves had his left guard down in shoulder roll mimicking so one would have expected him to know that Mbenge was about to throw the right hand.
A boxer of his experience Chaves should have easily avoided the punch but surprisingly it landed right on the money knocking him flat out.