|
25-year-old Swiss prospect Zino
Meuli came of age on Saturday
night, August 25, when he
captured the vacant World Boxing
Federation (WBF) International
Welterweight title by defeating
former IBO World Champion Tsiko
Mulovhedzi from South Africa.
Headlining a show promoted by
Markus Schefer at the
Bodensee-Arena in Kreuzlingen,
Switzerland, a lot of pressure
was on the back of the young man
from Horn, only about 30
kilometres away, with plenty of
support from fans, family and
friends.
It was expected to be a tough
and dangerous fight for Meuli,
who had never competed at this
level before, and Mulovhedzi,
who had fought and defeated much
better opposition, was by many
considered a favourite to ruin
the party.
But, after a nervous start, the
local hero found his distance
and rhythm after four rounds and
out-boxed the visitor while
moving effectively and landing
in spurts. Mulovhedzi came
forward but was very infective,
and never landed anything of
consequence.
Judges Thomas Walser and
Jean-Marcel Nartz both scored
the fight 98-92, while judge
Joerg Mangott had Meuli, now
12-0 (6), winning even more
comfortably at 100-91.
Mulovhedzi travels back to South
Africa with a 12-9-3 (6) record,
losing only for the second time
in the last nine years.
|
