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Undefeated South African
prospect Sanele Magwaza had to
overcome some difficult
obstacles to win his first
professional championship, the
vacant World Boxing Federation
(WBF) All Africa Bantamweight
title, on Saturday night,
November 23.
At the Walmer Hall in his
home-town of Port Elizabeth, he
had to move up two weight
classes to face a late
replacement, compatriot Enathi
Stelle, when original opponent
Mfundo Gwayana was pulled out at
very late notice for their
planned Flyweight title bout.
But if he thought the late
change would give him an easy
nights work, he was sorely
mistaking. Stelle fought his
heart out, and gave the
favourite his toughest fight to
date. Toe-to-toe battle had the
crown on their feet through-out
the entire ten rounds.
However, in the end two of the
judges, Nonelwa Fukutwa and
Prince Mbambaza, scored the
fight for Magwaza 96-94 and
98-92, the second appearing too
wide, while judge Siyabonga
Ncata had it the other way
around at 96-94 for Stelle.
The fight was a clear sign that
while Magwaza, now 5-0 (2),
could be a future star, he still
has a lot to learn. Stelle
proved that he is a much better
fighter than his now 4-3 (2)
record suggests, and he should
win plenty of meaningful fights
in the coming years.
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