Tough battle for Konkco
Title intact, but Filipino Landero did not make things easy
It was tougher than anticipated but finally Simpiwe Konkco emerged with his IBO mini-flyweight title intact after a unanimous-decision win over Filipino Toto Landero at Walter Sisulu University’s Zamakulungisa Hall in Mthatha on Sunday.
Landero, who was originally tagged to face Konkco’s stablemate Deejay Kriel before Kriel suffered an injury last month, came determined to make the bout a dogfight.
Having lost in a rather debatable decision to WBA champion Thammanoon Niyomtrong in his last bout in March, Landero did not want the outcome of this fight to be decided by the judges.
He had told Filipino media back home that he would gun for a stoppage to avoid the robbery he suffered in Thailand.
And from the first round he stuck to his game plan of swinging for the fences.
Not even setting up his punches with jabs, he hit Konkco in any part of his body.
Konkco, who does not shy way from fierce combat, returned the favour, turning the contest into a wild swinging affair.
The script was definitely not following what Konkco’s trainer Colin Nathan had in mind as he wants his boxers to execute a fight strategy in the ring.
Nathan was seen shouting at Konkco to use his head rather than brawling against the marauding visitor.
Konkco appeared to gather his senses as his jab often disrupted Landero’s offence and allowed him to time his forays.
But the age gap of 10 years between the two began to tell as the 22-year-old Filipino appeared to be fresher.
In the middle rounds Konkco started to bang the body and for the first time in the fight, Landero appeared to be in distress.
The relentless pressure gradually subsided while Konkco began to pick his punches well, drawing loud applause from the crowd.
But Landero knew there was a remote chance of winning the title on points at enemy territory, so he resumed his swinging job. By now the swings were aimless and Konkco would counter them with perfect hooks.
One such punch was an uppercut which landed flush for the Mthatha-born champion.
Going to the last round, Landero threw everything but the kitchen sink, desperate to turn the tables.
But it was not to be as all the judges saw Konkco retaining his title by scores of 116112 twice and 117-112.
In another bout, Makazole Tete continued his demise when he was soundly outboxed by Namibian Jonas Matheus in a clash for the vacant IBO international bantamweight title.
The Namibian had a relatively easy day in the ring as his opponent never showed any interest to fight.
Instead, Tete would cover up in a neutral corner and allow Matheus to flail away.
All the judges gave the fight to Matheus, by scores of 117111 twice and 118-111.
Asandiswa Nxokwana was unlucky for her IBO intercontinental junior bantamweight title against Sharodeen Fortuin to be declared a draw.
Nxokwana appeared to easily outbox Fortuin.