It’s Iron man Nkosi again
Lightweight champ defends Africa title, heavyweight ‘find’ Nebe KO’S his man in 24 secs
EVEN though Ayanda Nkosi took a bit of punishment in the early rounds, the South African had more than enough fire-power towards the end of the 12-round fight to defend his WBA Pan African lightweight title against Botswana’s Steven Bagwasi at the Fox Sports Africa Boxing tournament at Sibaya Casino & Entertainment Kingdom on Friday night.
It was his second title defence – the first was against Cosmas Cheka of Tanzania, whom he beat on a knockout very early in that 12-round bout which also took place at Sibaya.
The 25-year-old Nkosi, jubilant after securing a unanimous decision this time, said afterwards: “It was a tough one but I’m happy I came through this fight. He was tough. He threw everything at me as I had expected, especially in the early rounds. But when I slowly started wearing him down, getting my punches through his defence, I knew he would back off.
“I could see he began tiring after the seventh round so that’s when I increased my aggression and went looking for a knockout.”
Nkosi landed a telling punch in the 12th round – a right to Bagwasi’s head saw the Botswanan hit the canvas for an eight-count. But the spunky lightweight, who hadn’t gone beyond eight rounds in his professional career before, weathered the storm to see out 12 rounds.
“I gave my all,” Bagwasi said after the fight. “I’m not disappointed to have lost as it was a huge learning curve for me.
“It’s the first time I fought a 12-round fight and to have survived all 12 rounds is something.
“Ayanda is a good boxer. He is strong and he fought a tactical fight. I was up with him toe-to-toe from the beginning but then I started running out of steam from the ninth round onwards. I’ll be back though – that’s for sure.”
For Bagwasi it was his first loss in six fights while Nkosi took his record to 11 fights and one loss.
Meanwhile, Akani Phuzi, the tough WBA Pan African cruiserweight champion, retained his title with a workmanlike points win over Nigeria’s Afinni Abiodun over 12 rounds.
The big-hitting Phuzi hunted his opponent around the ring, throwing his big right hand but was unable to send the Nigerian to the canvas. Abiodun took some punishment during the encounter and never flinched while Phuzi hit his body with some telling blows.
“I’m glad Akani went through 12 rounds,” manager-trainer, Alan Toweel said. “For him it was a huge learning curve – he needs to go the distance instead of winning by a knockout all the time.”
A big disappointment was the poor showing of Namibian Anthony Jarmann, the WBA super-welterweight champion who lost on a TKO in the seventh round to South Africa’s John Bopane in a non-title fight.
The night ended with South Africa’s latest heavyweight ‘find’ Wilhelm Nebe knocking out Malawi’s Gilson Jeputers after just 24 seconds in the opening round of their four-rounder.