|
Friday night, October 6, saw
three World Boxing Federation
(WBF) championship fights take
place, one in Buenos Aires,
Argentina and two in
Bloemfontein, South Africa. And
the fans watching from ringside
enjoyed plenty of drama in all
three bouts.
In Argentina, at the Club
Atletico Almirante Brown, local
hero Alan Emmanuel Castano
remained undefeated and captured
the vacant WBF South America
Middleweight title with a sixth
round technical knockout of
former Brazilian national
Champion Gilberto Pereira dos
Santos.
Promoted by Los Rodriguez Boxing
Promotions, and televised live
by TNT Sports, the fight was
entertaining and lively from the
first round, but with Castano
often coming out on top of the
exchanges. Eventually he landed
the finishing shots on Pereira
dos Santos, and referee Martin
Carnevale Sosa waved it off at
2:58 of round six.
The 24-year-old new WBF Champion
improved his impressive
professional ledger to 13-0 (8),
and Peirera dos Santos drops to
14-7 (10).
The double-header in South
Africa had former WBF
International Super Welterweight
Champion Frans Ramabolu
headlining, as he moved up two
weight classes to take on late
replacement Xolani Mvubu for the
vacant WBF International title
at Super Middleweight.
And despite getting the
assignment at very short notice,
Mvubu (31) almost pulled off the
upset as he started the fight
very strong, out-boxing the
younger favourite from his
southpaw stance, and even
knocking Ramabolu (29) down in
the third round.
But Ramabolu beat the count of
referee Simon Mokabi, and
overcame the shaky start. From
round four he put gruelling
pressure on Mvubu, who quickly
felt the pace and started to
fade before retiring between the
fifth and sixth round.
At the time of stoppage Mvubu,
who falls to 14-12-2 (5), was
ahead on two cards, 49-45 and
48-46, while the third tally was
even at 47-47. Now a two-time
WBF International Champion,
Johannesburg´s Ramabolu improved
his professional record to 9-3
(4).
In a clash for the vacant WBF
Womens Intercontinental
Bantamweight Championship, 2016
South African Prospect of the
Year Melissa Miller, now 5-7-3
(2), battled to a ten round draw
against 20-year-old Malawian
Ellen Simwaka, 6-2-1 (4),
leaving the title without a new
owner.
After a wonderful back-and-forth
encounter, Judge Simon Mokabi
scored the fight 96-94 for the
visitor, Judge Ben Ncapayi had
it 96-95 for Miller, and Judge
Fred Makhatani saw it all even
at 95-95. Referee in charge was
Phumeza Zinakile.
Promoter for the event was Lebo
Mahoko and his Dream Team
Promotions.
|
