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Former two-time world champion
Mzonke Fana captured the vacant
World Boxing Federation (WBF)
Intercontinental Super
Featherweight title on Sunday,
March 22, at the Mdantsane
Indoor Centre in East London,
South Africa, when he defeated
fellow countryman Koos Sibiya.
In a close and competitive
fight, Fana used his straight
punches to score points,
especially his jab, and mostly
counter-punched, while Sibiya
was the aggressor and tried to
overwhelm his veteran opponent
by putting him under constant
pressure.
After twelve rounds of boxing,
in front of an enthusiastic
crowd, the closeness of the
fight was confirmed with a split
decision, when two of the
scoring judges had Fana ahead by
116-115 (Siya Vabaza & Siphiwo
Mbini), while the third judge
(Andile Matika) saw it in favor
of Sibya, 115-114. Referee was
Eddie Marshall.
Fana (41), also known as The
Rose of Khayelitsha, improved
his record to 34-7 (14) since
turning professional almost
twenty-one years ago in March
1994. With the victory, he could
be in line to challenge WBF
World Super Featherweight
champion Harmonito Dela Torre
(14-0, 9 KOs) from the
Philippines later this year.
Koos Sibiya, the reigning
Gauteng provincial champion and
undefeated in his previous eight
bouts, drops to 16-9-4 (1), but
did himself proud in the fight
and deserves other big
opportunities in the future.
Also on the card, Mfusi Maxhayi,
10-5-1 (5), lost his WBF
Intercontinental Bantamweight
title on the scales when he
failed to make weight for what
was supposed to be his second
title-defense against Mxolisi
Nombewu.
Instead the title was only at
stake for Nombewu, entering the
bout at 6-5-1 (4), but Maxhayi
was much too strong and won the
fight when referee Alan Matakane
stepped in to stop the onslaught
at 1:03 of the second round.
Televised in South Africa by
SuperSport, the massive show
which included five championship
fights, was promoted by Siphato
Handi and his Mamali Boxing
Productions.
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