Van Rooyen finally hits the big time, at 39

Middleweight title won against No 3

Patience is a virtue. It has taken Barend van Rooyen 19 years to become a South African boxing champion.

He failed twice against Martin Jacobs and then Lucky Lewele.

The Boksburg-based boxer was young and energetic during that time. Those were his only two losses against 18 wins and a draw. Van Rooyen quit the sport in 2013, the year he lost to Lewele.

Van Rooyen’s former stablemate Andre Thysse, now a promoter, brought him back in 2015 and got him a chance to make up for those losses against former SA middleweight champion Christopher Buthelezi.

Van Rooyen was rated No 2. Buthelezi vacated the title and moved up a division. Boxing SA’s championship committee could not approve No 1 contender Alfonso Tissen to oppose Van Rooyen for the vacant title because Tissen has not fought three fights in that weight class.

The next available contender was Yanga Phethani, the Western Cape-based boxer rated No 3. The 39-year-old Van Rooyen pulverised him into submission in six rounds to claim the vacant belt in the main bout of Real Steel Promotions of Thysse at Kempton Park Indoor Sports Centre on Saturday. It was Van Rooyen’s third KO in 26 victories against five losses and two draws.

“I am so excited,” he said fighting back tears. “I’m not able to talk because of excitement. After such a long time.”

Damien Durandt’s other charges, Emmany Kalombo and Jackson Chauke, also won their fights.

Kalombo did not break a sweat to register his eighth KO in eight wins against Aphiwe Myoyo from the Western Cape. A solid left hook to the solar plexus sent Moyo sagging like a bag of marbles and he was counted out by referee Sazi Xamlashe in round two.

Chauke, the current Gauteng flyweight champion, won an exciting bout in the fifth round against equally competent opponent Zolile Miya. Referee Simon Mokadi stopped the bout in two minutes and 13 seconds, much to the ire of trainer Lehlohonolo Ramagole who said Mokadi had no reason to stop the fight.

Other results: Lightweight:

Dennis Mwale beat Sifiso Khuzwayo TKO4 Roark Knapp beat Siyabonga Roloma KO4

Junior middleweight: Welterweight:

Tristan Trutter beat Peroti Kaniki KO1 Etienne van Niekerk beat Francis Matika TKO3

Middleweight: Middleweight 6 rounds:

Ricky Shabalala drew with Kongolo Tshimanga