Sibusiso Zingange from Pretoria retained the WBA Pan African junior lightweight title with an eighth-round technical knockout win over Mziwodumo Paul Mangxilana at the Malamulele Boxing Gym in the Limpopo Province over the past weekend.
Zingange (14-3-2; 4), who is also the African Boxing Union junior lightweight champion, won the vacant WBA Pan African title in February with a 12-round split decision over Sebastianus Natanael (10-1) in February this year.
Zingange, the No 1 rated junior lightweight, who is trained by former South African welterweight champion Harold Volbrect, made his pro debut in June 2013 and his only losses have come against Prince Dlomo (pts 6), Aphiwe Mboyiya (pts 12) for the vacant IBO All Africa junior lightweight title, and Jeremiah Nakathila (tko 6) in a bout for the WBO Africa junior lightweight title.
Mangxilana (6-7-5; 4) from Katlehong, who is rated at No 5 in the most recent Boxing SA ratings, has been fighting as a pro for five years.
It came as a surprise that he was stopped inside the distance as he has previously only lost inside the distance to quality fighters like Jeremiah Nakathila (tko 1) and Azinga Fuzile (tko 2) early in his career.
Xolani Mcotheli showed tremendous courage in retaining his South African junior welterweight title on a unanimous 12-round points decision over Marcus Lebogo, despite a badly injured right shoulder, at the Mdantsane Indoor Centre on Sunday afternoon.
The scores were 118-110, 117-112 and a surprising 115-113.
Mcotheli (18-5; 12) dislocated his shoulder in the fourth round and had to rely on his left jab for the rest of the fight.
The gutsy champion was able to keep the wild-swinging Lebogo (10-4-1; 2) on the outside, as the challenger showed very few skills throughout the 12 rounds and could not slow down the stricken champion.
The crowd showed their displeasure by mumbling throughout at the poor performance of the visitor, who was unable to take advantage of the injured champion.
After the decision was announced, the so-called mandatory challenger broke down in tears after his poor effort.
UNDERCARD
Former South African junior flyweight champion Luzuko Siyo (17-5; 14), having his first fight since April 2018, returned to action with a fifth-round technical knockout win over the limited Mwande Mbusi (3-3-1; 3) in a bantamweight fight.
Mbusi was knocked down in the first and fourth rounds.
In a bout for the vacant African Boxing Union light heavyweight title, Luvuyo Sizani (4-0; 2) scored a one-sided ten-round points decision over Jackson Masamba (2-4-2; 2) from the DRC.
The scores were 100-90 on all three judges’ scorecards.
–supersport.com
