|
It was a night with something
for every taste, as Showpony
Promotions staged the biggest
event in WBF history, and one of
the biggest shows in South
Africa in recent years, on
Saturday November 19 at the
Monte Casino in Johannesburg,
South Africa.
No less than six World Boxing
Federation (WBF) championships
were on the line, and nearly
3000 spectators were treated to
all kinds of drama.
Grant Comes From Behind To Kayo
Botha
Big American Michael Grant was
trailing on the scorecards and
on his way to a sure decision
loss when he amazingly found a
way out with a huge right hand
in the twelfth and final round
to knock out local legend
Francois Botha for the vacant
World Boxing Federation World
Heavyweight title.
It was difficult to separate the
two during the first six rounds,
but Botha looked stronger down
the stretch and won most rounds
in the second half of the bout.
“The White Buffalo” had a big
round eleven, and staggered
Grant several times, but the
experienced Atlanta-native made
it to the bell by wisely holding
and mauling. At this point it
looked as if, while on his way
to victory, Botha was starting
to tire.
In the final stanza Botha proved
his own worst enemy, as he
decided to trade punches with
the much heavier hitting Grant,
perhaps looking to put an
exclamation point on his
performance. Throughout the
fight Grant had not found much
success with his right hand, but
he certainly found it when he
needed it the most.
With less than thirty seconds
remaining, Grant landed a huge
overhand right to the jaw that
sent an onrushing Botha
crashing. Referee Ingo Barrabas
counted Botha out at 2:23 of the
round, and everything was turned
upside-down.
Grant, now 48-4 (36), proved
that a big puncher such as he is
never more than one good shot
away from victory, while Botha,
48-6-3 (29), learned the hard
way, if he didn’t already know,
that it’s never over before it’s
over!
At the time of the stoppage
Botha was ahead by scores of
106-103 (Desmond Bloyd), 107-102
(Glenn Feldman) and 108-101
(Aubrey Erasmus).
Klassen Wins Third World Title
Former two-time IBF champion
Malcolm Klassen won his third
world title, the WBF Super
Featherweight crown, with a
clear unanimous decision over
Mexico’s Daniel Lomeli. Klassen
showed his class and kept Lomeli
away at all times on his way to
a victory that was never in real
danger.
With superior speed, footwork,
reflexes and variety of punches,
Klassen boxed his way to a
118-110 (Glenn Feldman), 117-111
(Aubrey Erasmus), and 115-113
(Desmond Bloyd) victory.
Klassen is now 25-5-2 (15),
Lomeli drops to 21-3 (11).
Funeka Eaks By Marali
In a clash of fellow South
Africans it was a case of
third-time-lucky for Ali Funeka,
who captured the vacant WBF
World Light Welterweight title
against Zolani Marali. Funeka,
twice a narrow loser in IBF
world title fights, was awarded
a split decision that many felt
should have gone the other way.
Marali was clearly the busier
fighter, and appeared to be
landing more than his opponent.
In round six he was deducted a
point for holding, but evened
that out by scoring a knockdown
in round eleven. However, after
twelve rounds of boxing the
victory went to Funeka by scores
of 116-112 (Lulama Mtya) and
115-111 (Simphiwo Mbini) against
115-112 (Aubrey Erasmus) for
Marali.
The new WBF World Champion
improved his record to 31-3-3
(25), and the unfortunate loser
fell to 21-5 (13).
Msuthu An Unpopular Winner
Against Tubieron
WBF World Bantamweight Champion
Lubabalo Msuthu was not greeted
with cheers when announced a
split decision winner over
fellow southpaw Dennis Tubieron
from the Philippines.
The classy visitor seemed
sharper and busier from start to
finish, but in the end Msuthu´s
work had caught the eyes of the
judges, enabling him to make his
first defense of his title a
successful one and to improve
his professional ledger to
13-2-1 (10).
Tubieron lost for the first time
and is now 12-1-1 (4).
Makabu Stops Otas, Wins World
Cruiserweight Title
South Africa-based Congolese
Ilunga Makabu thoroughly
dominated Brazilian import Pedro
Ortas, putting on what was
perhaps the best effort of his
career to lift the vacant WBF
World Cruiserweight title.
Makabu boxed beautifully and at
times toyed with his South
American foe, and it quickly
looked as if it would only be a
matter of time before the
beating would end with a
knockout. Ortas never the less
stayed in there, despite not
offering much in return, until
the referee waved it over at
2:54 of round eleven.
At the time of the stoppage
Makabu had won every minute of
every round, and now boasts a
10-1 (10) record in the
professional ranks. Otas, who
won the Brazilian national title
in 2008, dropped to 23-2 (19).
Fight Of The Night, Buthelezi
New All-African Champ
In another All-South African
match-up, Mthobisi Buthelezi
took home the vacant WBF
All-African Welterweight strap
in the best fight of the
evening.
Buthelezi stopped Gerald
Nekhubvi in the seventh of a
scheduled ten-rounder that saw
action all the way between two
hungry and determined fighters.
The end came at 2:49 of the
seventh, Buthelezi improving to
11-1 (7). Nekhubvi, who captured
the WBO Africa title last year,
is now 5-1-1 (1).
|
