Flurry of punches in Thunzi-Mphuthi title clash likely broke SA record
Calls for Boxing SA to implement a punch-stats facility in bouts reached a crescendo after Luvuyo Mphuthi and Chumani Thunzi threw a possible record number of punches in their provincial junior-welterweight title clash at East London’s Orient Theatre on Sunday.
The two swapped a flurry of punches in what should be a record number of blows thrown in a junior-welterweight bout in the country.
Besides the fusillade, the bout which closed the 2023/2024 financial year, has* emerged as a front-runner for a fight-of-the-year candidate due to its ebb and flow which saw both combatants hit the deck three times as they took turns to dominate each other.
Thunzi, a once highly touted former amateur star, was fighting for the first time since suffering a shocking secondround knockout loss to Marcus Lebogo which snapped his unbeaten record.
Mphuthi had ditched the Paradise Boxing Club where he was trained by Khangelani Jack to team up with former threetime world champ Simpiwe Vetyeka, who was a trainer at the Nxarhuni-based gym. Jack was in Thunzi’s corner.
The dynamics combined to produce one of the best bouts ever witnessed at the iconic fight venue.
Fighting from a southpaw stance, Thunzi attacked from the first round throwing an avalanche of punches to pin Mphuthi on the ropes.
Mphuthi tried to weather the storm by timing Thunzi’s lunges, causing the bout to erupt into an explosive affair.
At the break, Vetyeka willed Mphuthi to make his reach advantage count and the champion started to use his long stick more while staying away from the trenches.
The strategy helped him keep Thunzi at the end of his punches and as he lunged in, he was floored by a big right.
Thunzi rose on unsteady legs, but smelling blood, Mphuthi charged at him and nailed him with a similar punch sending him crashing to the ropes.
Thunzi was badly hurt but fought through the haze though his legs were like jelly.
With the end one punch away, Mphuthi could not land cleanly while Thunzi used a combination of punching and holding to ward off his foe.
The sound of the bell was a relief for Thunzi, who lurched towards his corner in a daze.
The brief rest between rounds helped him to recover and start the third round in offensive mode while being wary of his adversary’s right.
While Mphuthi tried to move and use his jab, he was quickly drawn back to the battle but appeared to have the upper hand as his punches, albeit fewer, landed with better pop. But Thunzi’s relentless pressure seemed to gradually break Mphuthi down as his offence subsided considerably.
He was increasingly on the receiving end, often trapped on the ropes.
The pressure finally told when he was sent to the canvas in the sixth round and after Thunzi followed up the barrage, the fight was stopped.
Both boxers commended each other for the epic battle with BSA boss Mandla Ntlanganiso agreeing that the bout may have broken SA boxing records for most punches thrown in a junior-welterweight division.
“We already have the punch-stats facility but we need to implement it,” he said.
After such an explosive clash, any following bout was bound to be a dampener, and Zolisa Batyi and Lucky Hobyane’s SA featherweight title fight did not live up to expectations.
After a scrappy affair, Batyi’s body blows finally halted Hobyane in the eighth round to retain the title.
Other results: Lubabalo Kweyi No contest Bulelani Ngondeka (EC jnr light); Mthokozisi Ngxaka W6 Phumlani Maloni (mini-fly), Enathi Stelle W6 Mbulelo Gubula (catch), Mhlanganisi Sogcwayi W4 Mbuyiseli Ndukwana (light), Akhona Msindeli W4 Hlomla Goniwe (jnr fly), Athenkosi Thunzi W4 Somila Jada (minifly), Asenathi Mdledle TKO 3 Aphelele Gungu (mini-fly).