Sowetan

‘War Child’ making his mark in boxing

Maemu chalks up wins with Toweel

- By Bongani Magasela

Rofhiwa “War Child” Maemu is unnoticeab­ly making his mark as a boxer despite having failed to win the SA featherwei­ght belt from reigning champion Azinga “Golden Boy” Fuzile of Duncan Village near East London.

The man from Soweto is becoming a force to be reckoned with after teaming up trainer Alan Toweel Junior.

Maemu – who stunned the boxing fraternity with a second-round demolition of Prince Ndlovu for the ABU SADAC belt in Randburg in June – went one up by winning the WBA regional belt against Namibian Immanuel Andeleki in Botswana on October 11.

To prove the win was not a fluke, Maemu retained that belt with a unanimous points decision against tough-as-nails Fadhili Omari Majiha of Tanzania on Thursday.

Toweel said Majiha showed his intentions early in the fight and even used his third punch in round three, his head, to try and take Maemu out.

However, the fearless local held his own and went on the offensive from round four and was duly declared the winner in the end. He improved his record to 14 wins against seven losses and two draws, while Majiha suffered his 10th loss.

“Rofhiwa’s defence was very tight: arms up and chin tucked in. The guy was awkward but once Rofhiwa sized him from round five he got better and better as the fight progressed,” said Toweel.

Toweel’s other charge, Sikho “Sequence” Nqothole beat Kenyan Gabriel Ochieng on points over six rounds in the bantamweig­ht fight, while Sifiso Hlongwane won on points over four rounds against Moabi Ngaka of Botswana in the lightweigh­t division.

Nyiko Ndukula lost on points to Tshepang Babui of Botswana over four rounds in the featherwei­ght class.

 ?? / MARK ANDREWS ?? Rofhiwa Maemu lands a right hand to Lwandisa Zinto in their featherwei­ght clash.
/ MARK ANDREWS Rofhiwa Maemu lands a right hand to Lwandisa Zinto in their featherwei­ght clash.

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