Bongani Magasela
Bongani Magasela
Zukisani "Troublemaker" Kwayiba is living on borrowed time as WBC International mini flyweight champion.
This became evident on Friday night at the Carousel casino in Hammanskraal when Kwayiba escaped by the skin of his teeth against Tshepo Lefele and subsequently retained the title via a majority points decision.
Judge Sylvia Mokaila scored their fight a draw at 114 each while Tony Nyangiwe and Alf Buqwana scored it 116-114 and 114-113 confirming Kwayiba's third defence.
It was an impressive scene, especially on the side of the champion who is currently rated sixth by the WBC.
The 22-year-old champion from Duncan Village, the home for of dogs such as Mbulelo "The Slayer" Botile, the retired former IBF bantamweight holder, boasts massive skills but Kwayiba just cannot last longer inside the ring.
It is unclear whether he does not train hard enough or has weight problems that leave him drained and powerless. Six rounds, maximum and he is dog tired.
He won fair and square against Lefele but Kwayiba, a belt holder in the Baby Champs edition of 2005, seems to be going nowhere fast.
Danger signs first showed a few months ago when he registered a dubious majority points win over Alex Aroy at the same casino in North West.
That fight ended comically after a power outage in the seventh round, and Kwayiba, who seemed behind on points against the Filipino, found solace in the decision of local judges who declared him a points winner.
The left-handed champion, whose skills are honed by Dudu Bungu, is still undefeated after 13 wins. Lefele, who was sent out to battle by Nick Durandt, just did not show any hunger or determination to reclaim the belt he lost to Gabriel Pumar on March 31 2006.
Lefele, who was stopped in seven, had ample chances of stopping the tired Kwayiba at any time after six rounds, but the Free Stater did not put in more effort.
He subsequently suffered his third defeat against 14 wins. Their fight topped the six-card programme of promoters Branco Milenkovic and Jake Matlala.
Purists will concur that Phumzile Matyhila delivered a below par performance and thus shared the spoils with Pfariso Neluvhalani over six rounds in the junior bantamweight division.
Matyhila, who forfeited the WBC International junior flyweight belt a few months ago because ofhis failure to make the weight, performed so poorly that his future looks bleak.
It was his first draw against 15 wins while Neluvhani, who came down from the junior featherweight division, added the second draw against six wins and two defeats.
Other results: Lehlohonolo Ramagole beat bt Morris Motavhatsindi on points over six; Godlife Mabitsela bt Mosala Ramabebe TKO 4; Kgotla Baeti bt Stanford Mabasa on points over six; Cleutus Mbele bt Sipho Nkadimeng on points over six.
whither kwayiba?
Bongani Magasela
Bongani Magasela
Zukisani "Troublemaker" Kwayiba is living on borrowed time as WBC International mini flyweight champion.
This became evident on Friday night at the Carousel casino in Hammanskraal when Kwayiba escaped by the skin of his teeth against Tshepo Lefele and subsequently retained the title via a majority points decision.
Judge Sylvia Mokaila scored their fight a draw at 114 each while Tony Nyangiwe and Alf Buqwana scored it 116-114 and 114-113 confirming Kwayiba's third defence.
It was an impressive scene, especially on the side of the champion who is currently rated sixth by the WBC.
The 22-year-old champion from Duncan Village, the home for of dogs such as Mbulelo "The Slayer" Botile, the retired former IBF bantamweight holder, boasts massive skills but Kwayiba just cannot last longer inside the ring.
It is unclear whether he does not train hard enough or has weight problems that leave him drained and powerless. Six rounds, maximum and he is dog tired.
He won fair and square against Lefele but Kwayiba, a belt holder in the Baby Champs edition of 2005, seems to be going nowhere fast.
Danger signs first showed a few months ago when he registered a dubious majority points win over Alex Aroy at the same casino in North West.
That fight ended comically after a power outage in the seventh round, and Kwayiba, who seemed behind on points against the Filipino, found solace in the decision of local judges who declared him a points winner.
The left-handed champion, whose skills are honed by Dudu Bungu, is still undefeated after 13 wins. Lefele, who was sent out to battle by Nick Durandt, just did not show any hunger or determination to reclaim the belt he lost to Gabriel Pumar on March 31 2006.
Lefele, who was stopped in seven, had ample chances of stopping the tired Kwayiba at any time after six rounds, but the Free Stater did not put in more effort.
He subsequently suffered his third defeat against 14 wins. Their fight topped the six-card programme of promoters Branco Milenkovic and Jake Matlala.
Purists will concur that Phumzile Matyhila delivered a below par performance and thus shared the spoils with Pfariso Neluvhalani over six rounds in the junior bantamweight division.
Matyhila, who forfeited the WBC International junior flyweight belt a few months ago because ofhis failure to make the weight, performed so poorly that his future looks bleak.
It was his first draw against 15 wins while Neluvhani, who came down from the junior featherweight division, added the second draw against six wins and two defeats.
Other results: Lehlohonolo Ramagole beat bt Morris Motavhatsindi on points over six; Godlife Mabitsela bt Mosala Ramabebe TKO 4; Kgotla Baeti bt Stanford Mabasa on points over six; Cleutus Mbele bt Sipho Nkadimeng on points over six.
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