Ncita assist sin Sigqibo triumph
Team revamp puts snap in EL boxer’s punches
The decision to rope in Welcome Ncita to refine Yanga Sigqibo’s boxing make-up seems to be a masterstroke after the Duncan Village star produced a gutsy display to outwit free-swinging Nicaraguan Keyvin Lara on Friday.
By beating the visitor with scores of 117-112, 116-112 and 117-111 Sigqibo finally proved that he is as gutsy as he is talented.
The win netted him the WBO Intercontinental junior bantamweight title and set him off to a higher rating in the IBF which currently lists him at eighth spot.
Before the fight, Sigqibo’s technical team was revamped with Ncita.
This proved to be the best decision by his handlers as his boxing style is almost similar to that of the young Ncita.
Against Lara there was snap in his punches and his tendency to fight scared was gone although he fought on the back-foot throughout.
But he was as slippery as an eel, with Lara struggling to connect with his swings, resorting to dirty antics which drew several warnings from the referee until he was docked a point in the last round which set him further back and diminished his chances of a win.
Lara came to the country with a reputation of having suffered a loss to Kazuto Ioka in a WBA flyweight title challenge, having also lost his debut bout.
While Sigqibo seems to gel nicely with Ncita’s teachings, Athi Dumezweni took the performance of local boxers a notch up when he not only ended Mexican Ulises Lara’s dominance of local boxers, but did so with a sensational knockout in the fourth round.
The Mthatha-born boxer seems to have reached his prime under Damean Durandt with some solid performances.
The left-hander is able to sit on his punches to get good leverage and balance which makes him the hardest puncher in the division in the country.
After dominating the bout from the first round with his deft angled offence, Dumezweni floored Lara hard for a full count to pick up the vacant IBO intercontinental junior bantamweight belt, a second major title in a row after capturing the SA crown with a similar stoppage over Lindile Tshemese in August.
A 69-year-old record was equalled in stunning fashion when 19-year-old Ntlantla Tyirha laid out defending champion Bongani Silila with a counter right hook to lift the SA junior flyweight crown.
By winning the fight in only his fourth professional fight, Tyirha equalled Vic Toweel’s record set in 1949 of winning the national title in only his fourth bout.
Xaba Promotions, which organised the tournament, was delighted to be part of the history-making feat.
“People questioned me when I matched Tyirha with Silila, some blaming me of throwing the boy into the deep end. But I knew that he would prevail by a stoppage,” XP boss Ayanda Matiti said.
“This boy is destined for big things and if he can do this at just 19 years old, imagine what he will be at 29.”
The big night also saw forgotten-yet-still-very-capable Nkosinathi Joyi turning the clock by dominating previously unbeaten Mpho Seforo before laying him out in the seventh round to pick up the WBO African junior flyweight crown.
It was one of the best performances by the 35-year-old Joyi who showed remarkable sharpness despite a two-year lay-off.
Other results: Marios Matamba TKO 4 Siseko Makeleni (WBO Africa junior welterweight title).
● Meanwhile, Thulabi Mbenge retained his IBO welterweight title when he stopped Mexican Miguel Vasquez at Emperors Palace on Saturday night.
Thabiso Mchunu avenged his previous defeat by Thomas Oosthuizen when he won their ABU cruiserweight title rematch.