Boxing In South Africa: Hlatshwayo, Mabuza, Motau And Sanders Win In Kempton Park

Golden Gloves put on a great show last night at the Emperors Palace Casino in Kempton Park with some of the biggest names in the country on the bill.

In the headlining bout, ex-IBO Lightweight Champion Isaac Hlatshwayo went up another weight class and won the vacant IBO Welter crown with a unanimous points decision over Joseph “Smokin’ Joe” Makaringe.

Despite coming off a loss to Kendal Holt for the NABF Light Welterweight bauble six months ago, Hlatshwayo, 26-1 (9), was back in fine form and was simply too skilled for his larger opponent.

Showing the finely polished skills that took him to the brink contending for a world title, “The Angel” beat Makaringe to the punch repeatedly, landing stinging combinations and right hands.

Former South African titlist Makaringe, 30-4 (25), showed his trademark toughness and solid chin but the puncher from Giyani could never land flush on his quicker rival.

Former two time IBF title challenger Silence Mabuza, 20-2 (16), regained his former IBO Bantamweight belt with a hard fought fifth round stoppage over Tanzania’s tough southpaw, Mbwana “African Golden Boy” Matumla.

A speedy super flyweight, Matumla, 17-3 (10), proved difficult to catch until Mabuza scored with a lead left hook that dropped the Tanzanian in the second.

Matumla beat the count and returned to countering the South African with some eye catching shots but as the fight wore on, the “African Golden Boy” couldn’t maintain the distance and Mabuza took advantage of his edge in strength to bully the smaller man on the inside.

In the fifth frame, Mabuza speared Matumla with a crippling body shot that the 32 year old from Dar Es Salaam simply couldn’t take and the fight was called off at 2:23 of the fifth.

South African Middleweight kingpin Kgotso Motau, 11-0 (11), stayed perfect, nailing Zimbabwean journeyman Kabelo Ndlovu, 7-9-2 (4), repeatedly with southpaw power left hands for a first round KO.

There seems to be no one domestically who can handle the power of Motau and the 25 year old may have to go up to super middle and face the likes of Peter Mashamaite in order to have a challenging fight.

41 year old former WBO Heavyweight Champion Corrie Sanders, 42-3 (31), continued his comeback with a wide ten round points decision over Brazil’s Daniel Bispo, 19-7 (3).

But Sanders had to overcome a hand injury in the first round that left “The Sniper” without the southpaw power punch that knocked out Wladimir Klitschko four years ago and the 6 foot 4 inch golfer from Pretoria
basically beat Bispo with just the right hand.