Boxing fans watch non-stop action in KwaLanga
SILINDOKUHLE Boxing Promotions, in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Promoters Association and the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, hosted a successful Silindokuhle Boxing Promotions tournament at Tambo Village Community Hall in KwaLanga on Saturday.
The non-stop boxing action was attended by hundreds of fans, who witnessed four fights ending with technical knockouts (TKOs). In the vacant Eastern Cape junior featherweight 10-round title fight, Mbulelo Gwabeni entered the ring as the hot favourite to claim the provincial championship belt, but Sanele Magwaza ended the fight with a TKO in the second round.
Interestingly, Magwaza was defeated by Gwabeni at Tambo Village Community Hall in KwaLanga in November last year. The former World Boxing Federation (WBF) Africa bantamweight champion, Magwaza from Gqeberha, earned sweet revenge against his hometown boxer, Gwabeni.
In the main supporting bout, a junior bantamweight bout over six rounds, Gqeberha’s Ayanda Gangqa secured an easy win over Duncan Village’s Asiphile Xhipholwana by TKO in the third round. Gqeberha boxer, Aphiwe Magobiyane, ended the fight in the fourth round as he sent Makhanda boxer, Njongo Skweyiya, to the canvas with a TKO.
Milani George from Gqeberha made a name for himself as he was declared the winner over Kariega boxer, Luthando Calata, after the referee stopped the fight in the third round, with George winning by TKO in their mini-flyweight six-rounder. In the mini-flyweight division four-round bout, Gqeberha boxer, Maxhoba Paraffin, lost to Kariega’s opponent, Siyamnkela Gqubule, by a majority points decision.
In the bantamweight four-round bout, fans watched a game described as a standout fight as both boxers, Uyanda Mtongana from Gqeberha and Siphesihle Mpolweni from Makhanda, displayed their boxing skills from the first round to the last round. Mpolweni went home as the victor on points.
Rugby derbies pull fans to Dan Qeqe Stadium
RUGBY spectators flocked from nearly every corner of the city to watch rugby derbies at Dan Qeqe Stadium in Zwide on Saturday.
Aiming to prepare for the upcoming season, the following teams participated in preseason friendly games: Pirates, Walmer Wallabies, Wells Dragons, Kuyga, African Bombers, Easterns, Spring Rose, Kwaru, Gelvan Wallabies, Morning Stars, Windvogel United, St Marks (PE), Algoa Park, Glen Roses, Motherwell, and Morning Stars (Wells Estate).
Some teams appeared rusty after a long season layoff. Nevertheless, spectators enjoyed the games. Pirates achieved a 10-0 victory over Walmer Wallabies, while Wells Dragons secured a well-deserved 14-0 win against Kuyga. African Bombers struggled but managed to defeat Easterns 12-6 in their tough clash.
It was an uphill battle when Spring Rose claimed a narrow 8-6 triumph over Kwaru. The Gelvan Wallabies had a challenging match but secured a 17-12 victory against Morning Stars. Fans were kept on their feet as Windvogel United played to a 0-0 draw against St Marks (PE).
Despite their 17-12 loss, Glen Roses made Algoa Park fight for their win. Contrary to rugby pundits’ expectations, Motherwell was held to a tryless draw by their neighbours Morning Stars (Wells Estate).
