On Friday night, November 27, on a show promoted by Ring Olympique Marseille at the Salle Vallier in Marseille, France, Karine Rinaldo was crowned as the new World Boxing Federation (WBF) Women’s World Super Bantamweight Champion when she defeated late substitute Alexandra Lazar from Hungary for the vacant title.
Originally scheduled to face Argentinean Carolina Marcela Gutierrez, Rinaldo was forced to switch her focus to Lazar, who jumped at the unexpected opportunity when the former world titlist pulled out of the fight only a few days before her expected arrival in France.
Rinaldo didn’t leave anything to chance, as she came out fast in the first round and overwhelmed Lazar with punches from all angles. The 19-year-old Hungarian was forced to back-peddle, and while she tried to throw some counter punches she had little success.
After surviving a knock-down from a Rinaldo right hand in the second round, the outclassed Lazar was rescued by referee Zbigniew Lagosz in round three when she went down again following a flurry. Official time of the technical knockout victory for Rinaldo was 1:08.
Rinaldo (26), who improved her record to 14-1-1 (5), is now due to face Interim champion Gabisile Tshabalala from South Africa next year. Lazar drops to 4-1 (2), but at her young age she has plenty of time to come back strong and put herself in line for other opportunities in the years to come.
Also on Friday night, in Khayelitsha, South Africa, Southpaw Mfundo Gwayana captured the vacant WBF Intercontinental Flyweight title by unanimous decision after a pulsating battle with fellow countryman Dalisizwe Komani.
After twelve rounds of back-and-forth, high-octane action, judges Rassie Erasmus, Elroy Marshal and Clifford Mbelu all scored the SABC TV televised fight in favor of Gwayana by scores of 115-110, 115-109 and 116-113 respectively.
The new Intercontinental Flyweight champion improves his ledger to 19-9-3 (9), while Komani falls to 14-7-1 (8) after winning his previous four bouts. The fight was promoted by CSUNS Boxing Promotions.
