Bongani Magasela

Bongani Magasela

Vus'Umuzi Malinga reigned supreme while boxing suffered a black eye on Friday.

He was dubiously adjudged to have drawn a fight he appeared to have lost narrowly to Jerope Mercado at Nasrec Arena.

Judge Andrew Smale scored it 114-113 for Malinga and that left much to be desired.

Ishmael Khoali scored it a draw at 114-114 while Siya Vabaza scored it 115-112 for Mercado who should have walked away with the WBC International bantamweight belt. The Filipino outclassed Malinga throughout eight rounds and made him look like an amateur.

All three judges had Mercado ahead on points after eight rounds. He evaded Malinga's blows with ease, and countered beautifully with left and right hooks. Their cards read 77-74 twice and 78-74.

Malinga bulldozed his way forward throwing every punch in the book. Some of his punches landed while most went whooshing over Mercado's head.

The Filipino slowed down a bit towards the dying moments while Malinga continued going forward although he was ineffective.

"Boxing was a loser not my boy", said a livid trainer Juanito Ablanca who accompanied Randy Suico for a bloody battle with Mzonke Fana at Orlando Communal hall on May 8 2004.

The fight on Friday was promoted by Branco Sports Production. Other results: Bantam: Godifile Mabitsela bt Charles Gololo, TKO 1;

Bantam 4 rds: Cleutus Mbhele bt Shadrack Makama, points;

Lightweight: Jacques Stafelberg bt Lawrence Mathevhula. KO 3; Welterweight: Chris van Heerden bt Moses Mbowana, TKO 4.