South Africa's Xolisani Ndongeni (31-2-0) dominated the main event at ESPN Africa Boxing 23 with a seventh round KO victory over Thailand's Apinun Khongsong (20-3-0) in their International Junior Welterweight Bout on Thursday.
The South African was technically sound in Durban, and stuck to his trainer's plan in order to earn the 31st win of his career. He worked his jab superbly, both to the body and the head of his opponent, peppering the midriff to weaken the Thai fighter.
This led to Khongsong dropping his guard and Ndongeni took full advantage in the fourth round when a right hand sent Khongsong to the deck. He answered the count but was lucky to escape the round.
Ndongeni persisted and in the sixth round Khongsong was on the canvas twice after some super combinations from the South African, the overhand right doing the damage on both occasions.
Finally, two minutes and six seconds into the seventh round, after being down for the fourth time, Khongsong failed to answer the count.
Speaking after the fight, Ndongeni said: "We have worked every day. I was tired but I kept pushing. The knockout is something we planned. He was a tough opponent. I knew I had to box him, he was very strong.
"I proved I can box when I have to, I can fight when I have to. I need a title on my waist."
SA's Lamati dispatched Philippines veteran
The co-main event saw South Africa's Ludumo Lamati (21-0-1) KO the Philippines' Mark Anthony Geraldo (38-12-3) two minutes and nine seconds into round four of their International Featherweight bout.
It was a cagey first round with both boxers feeling each other out. The second round, though, saw the South African working well behind his jab and landing some straight rights.
It was more of the same in the third as Lamati picked up the pace and it paid dividends in the fourth. A thunderous right to the body of Geraldo saw the Filipino fighter drop to the deck and fail to answer the count.
Ludumo Lamati lands a huge body shot to win the fight by technical knockout.
Close call in Basheel's split decision win
The main card opened with the fight of the night as Malawi's Anisha Basheel (11-8-0) earned a split decision win (56-57, 58-56, 59-55) over Zimbabwe's Chiedza Homakoma (6-4-2) in their International Female Lightweight bout over six rounds.
Homakoma, though, started the better of the two fighters and landed the cleaner shots with her left-hook and overhand right dominating the first two rounds.
The contest turned in the third round when a devastating overhand right from Basheel sent the Zimbabwean tumbling to the canvass. Homakoma got back to her feet, but was saved by the bell as the round ended with her taking numerous shots to the head.
Rounds four through six saw both boxers stand toe-to-toe in the center of the ring as they dished out a slugfest, but Basheel landed the more telling blows to earn the 11th win of her career.
Van Heerden puts on impressive boxing display
The second bout on the main card saw South Africa's Donjuan Van Heerden (5-1-0) put on an clever boxing display which saw him beat Congo's Giresse Wingui (2-2-0) via a unanimous decision win (59-56, 59-55, 59-56) in their International Middleweight bout over six rounds.
The South African looked good from the opening bell and found his rhythm early on. Wingui simply had no answer for Van Heerden's combinations and slick footwork.
Van Heerden won the first three rounds comfortably, but the man from Congo mounted a bit of a fight back in the last three and had Van Heerden on the ropes in the sixth round. But his earlier efforts paid off and kept him in the lead with the officials, despite his legs going by the end.
Truter earns TKO win after cut eye
The third bout on the main card saw Tristan Truter (11-3-0) earn a fourth round TKO win over Andile Mntungwa (6-6-1) in their Super Middleweight bout.
The fight was a severely contested affair, but a cut suffered to the top of the left eye in the first round was the difference with the doctor declaring Mntungwa unable to continue, two minutes and 20 seconds into round four.
The fight was tight from the start and neither boxer had a clear edge although Truter landed the more telling blows, especially in the first with a great right-hook that split his opponents eyebrow.
Mzimela claims KZN Junior Featherweight title
The fourth bout on the main card saw Mduduzi Mzimela (6-0-0) claim the KZN Junior Featherweight title with a split decision win (96-93, 94-95, 96-93) over Sanele Maduna (4-2-2) in their 10-round fight.
The pattern of the fight emerged early on as Mzimela pushed forward, swinging aggressively but Maduna kept his composure and picked his shots. Maduna used his stinging straight to score and was counter punching really well, tagging Mzimela every time he threw his wild punches.
To his credit the newly-crowned champion kept pushing forward and kept his work-rate high which made a big impact on the judges.
The final round was the telling one, with Mzimela coming out firing, throwing as many punches as he could. This saw Maduna continuously hold onto him, and he was eventually deducted a point, which made all the difference on the scorecards.
Main Card results:
- Basheel wins by split decision over Homakoma (56-57, 58-56, 59-55)
- Van Heerden wins by unanimous decision over Wingui (59-56, 59-55, 59-56)
- Truter wins by TKO over Mntungwa (2 min, 20 secs in round 4)
- Mzimela wins by split decision over Maduna (96-93, 94-95, 96-93)
- Lamati wins by KO over Geraldo (2 mins, 9 secs in round 4)
- Ndongeni wins by KO over Khongsong (2 min, 6 secs in round 7)