Boxing Photos: Tshifhiwa Munyai – Lee Haskins

Ricky Jones 10/8/2006 Boxing Photos, Round by Round

**MASSIVE RINGSIDE BOXING GALLERY**
Click for larger image © Bernard Miller / presquevu.com

Maloney Promotions put on another entertaining scrap this evening and if the Commonwealth Bantamweight dustup between champion Tshifhiwa Munyai of South Africa and southpaw challenger Lee Haskins at London’s York Hall didn’t reach the epic proportions of last week’s Maloney sponsored Moore – Macklin war, it was still certainly a good fight to watch either in person or on Sky Sports’ broadcast.

Round one: Despite facing a man two weight classes higher than the foes he normally mixes with, Commonwealth Flyweight titlist Haskins confidently jumps in with his shots in the Naseem Hamed style that he is known for. The amazingly tall bantamweight Munyai is clearly not sure what to make of his opponent’s style thus far and loses the round to Lee.

Round two: The champion is missing widly because of the great reflexes of Haskins. The South African still looks strong, even though he is getting countered with some hard shots by the cat-quick Englishman from the rough and tumble city of Bristol. Lee’s round again.

Round three: The tide has begun to turn as the savvy African is far more successful. It seems that Munyai has begun to get the rhythm of Haskin’s strategy of awkwardness in the third and has Lee not only missing wildly but eating serious counter punches as well. A bit of extra-curricular action came after the bell ended the third when an angry Haskins tagged Munyai with a jab but then paid the price as the champion took offense and slashed in a good hook to turn the bout officially into a grudge match. Munyai’s round.

Round four: At the beginning of the fourth, the referee Micky Vann has words with both fighters about the illegal activity but soon the rivals are again at it. Haskins is on the back foot for the first half of the round then trades in the second half with Munyai and comes off better. A new development sees Munyai going for the body to slow down the fleet-footed challenger and it looks like the tourist has found a weakness.

Round five: Munyai is making no bones about his intentions and is simply body hunting the shorter man. Just when it looks as if Munyai has turned into Ricky Hatton, he catches Haskins with a full-blooded headshot. Lee takes it well and even has success with a sharp looking one combo but the fifth is another round for Munyai, who looks better the longer the fight goes on.

Round six: It’s now all Munyai as the towering champion is battering Haskins just as he battered British Champion Martin Power a little over three months ago in this very same boxing ring. The leatherstorm continues and Haskins is nearly out on his feet and it looks as if his corner is may be ready to stop the slaughter. Micky Vann is giving Haskins every chance but his hand is forced when Munyai rattles off a mean looking four punch combination, stopping Haskins who was still on his feet but clearly no longer in the fight.

Tshifhiwa Munyai has retained his Commonwealth Bantamweight title for the first time and was clearly too much for Lee. Haskins at this point in his career needs to move down in weight, at least to super flyweight if he can, and regroup.

During his postfight interview on Sky, Lee said that Munyai was very strong and faster than he looked against Martin Power. “He came here and just ruined my world,” remarked a dejected Haskins, “I won’t be moving down (in weight) again.”

Munyai was quoted as saying “He gave me trouble at first but I just stuck with my boxing.”

Will Maloney Promotions bring Munyai back to England a third time? Is there any bantamweight in Britain who can last twelve rounds with the tall tourist from South Africa?

Tshifhiwa Munyai – Lee Haskins