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In a rematch of the 2011 WBF
Fight Of The Year, Zolani Marali
got his revenge when he
dethroned fellow countryman Ali
Funeka to win the World Boxing
Federation World Light
Welterweight title on Saturday,
Dec. 8, at the Orient Theatre in
East London, South Africa.
Funeka had won a controversial
split decision over Marali in
November 2011, and both had
wowed to set the record straight
in the long-awaited second
go-around. It didn’t turn out to
be quite as pulsating as the
first encounter, but the two
warriors did, again, bring the
best out of each other, and gave
the crowd another good fight.
But this time there was no
controversy, as Marali was the
best man on the night and put on
a magnificent performance to win
a unanimous decision. Marali
looked sharp and determined from
the start, and boxed well from
his southpaw stance, but the
defending champion also had his
moments and was not giving up
his title without a fight.
In the end, judges
Siphiwe Mbini, Lulama Mtya and
Andile Matika, all from South
Africa, scored the contest
116-113, 116-113 and 116-114 in
favor of new champion Marali,
who surely must have found great
satisfaction in evening the
score with Funeka after more
than a year of waiting for the
opportunity.
New WBF World Light Welterweight
Champion Zolani “Untouchable”
Marali improved his professional
ledger to 22-5 (13), while now
former titlist Ali “Rush Hour”
Funeka drops to 31-4-3 (25). A
rubber-match between these two
should not be out of the
question, as they will likely
always put on a great show.
The fight was promoted by
Siphato Handi and his Mamali
Promotions. Referee in charge
was Darryl Ribbink, WBF
Supervisor President Howard
Goldberg. |
