Boxing News Boxing News
It was a four title fight night at the Emperor’s Palace in Kempton Park last evening with two IBO and two South African crowns on the line.
It was hard to call the action between IBO Super Flyweight Champ Masibulele “Hawk” Makepula, 28-5 (18), of East London and his local rival, Zolile “Bonecrusher” Mbityi, 32-13-3 (11), who is the reigning South African Champ at 115 lb.
By the time the 12th round came to a close, 37 year old Mbityi was declared the winner and new IBO titlist by split decision scores of 116-113, 115-113 and 115-116.
A former IBO and South African Champ at flyweight, Mbityi has now won four in a row while Makepula was coming off a loss to Jorge Arce of Mexico in a WBC Super Flyweight title eliminator.
One of the best bantamweights in the world, Silence Mabuza, 22-2 (18), made an appearance at Emperor’s Palace and “African Spice” pounded out a fifth round stoppage of Argentine visitor Damian David Marchiano, 15-4-1 (15), of Buenos Aires.
It was Mabuza’s third straight victory since failing for a second time to defeat the IBF Champion at the time, Rafael Marquez, in 2006.
South African Light Heavyweight titlist Daniel Bruwer, 19-1-1 (16), dramatically stopped challenger Anthony Van Niekerk, 20-6-2 (12), in the 12th and final round while South African Heavyweight Champ Osborne “Big Daddy” Machimana, 16-5-1 (12), halted Cape Town’s Miyan Solomons, 9-5-1 (8), in the fifth.
