Big plans after Bell’s third victory
PORT Elizabeth’s golden girl Nozipho Bell defended her South African junior lightweight title for a third time by a knockout against the former No 1 contender, Ryder Muleba, in Limpopo, at the weekend.
Muleba showed her eagerness to clinch the title and was seen leading on points in the first three rounds.
She had good combinations to the abdomen that slowed Bell’s attack.
Coach Caiphus Ntante changed their strategy in the fifth round and this saw Bell take the upper hand.
Bell kept a cool head in the sixth round and did not let Muleba’s fancy footwork in the ring disturb her.
An enormous right hook by Bell in the eighth round saw Muleba drop to the canvass, losing the bout by a TKO.
Ntante said: “Our opponent was hungry for the title and put on quite a spectacle for her home crowd.
“We were fortunate that Bell’s fitness was on par and we managed to outbox her in the last four rounds.
“Our biggest concern was miscalculation in points, since we were fighting away.
“We are very pleased with the competitiveness brought forward by Muleba.”
Bell’s performance in the bout was highly commended by Boxing South Africa’s chief operating officer Cindy Nkomo.
“Nozipho is a good fighter who could have closed the bout in the fifth round,” she said. With Bell being the only South African Champion to hail from the Eastern Cape, she is now eyeing defending her title another time before contending for an international fight.
She hopes to raise the bar even further by breaking former SA champion Boniwe Nonina’s record of five undefeated fights.
“It is our ultimate goal to fight internationally and raise the South African flag higher,” Ntante said.
“We need to channel her mind to always remain confident, regardless of what is happening in the ring.”