Chris van Heerden, bleeding profusely from the nose and with blood all over his face, soldiered on to retain his South African welterweight title on Friday night.
He registered a deserved unanimous points decision over Boitshepo Mandawe.
Judges David van Niewenhuizen and Joseph Chaane both scored the fight 117-110 while Boitumelo Madiba's card read 116-111.
This was Van Heerden's second defence of his title. His slate is still clean after 13 fights, while the tough-as-nails Mandawe tasted defeat for the first time after 10 fights.
The challenger, ushered into the ring by trainers Jerry Phukuje and Benny Pailman, was very aggressive.
He threw heavy punches that broke van Heerden's nose in the fourth round. Blood made the ring look like an abattoir.
The fans were on their toes as van Heerden, who fought at home in Meyerton, almost spoiled it for Mandawe's fans who came in two minibuses from Soweto, when he began to use dirty tricks.
Van Heerden later boxed skillfully by using his elbows and shoulders.
Mandawe also made it easy for Van Heerden since he allowed his opponent to smother him.
Van Heerden's skills are honed by Nick Durandt.
Other results:
Bantamweight: Jason Kinnear beat Bright Zulu on points; Flyweight: Melikhaya Nketyana beat Mluleki Fukile on points; Lightweight: Charles Weyers bt Lucky Makhubela tko 2 (all these bouts were scheduled for 4 rounds); Welterweight (6 rds): Mthobisi Buthelezi bt Sello Letsoale on points while Kobus Mothloding was disqualified in round three against Michal van Heerden.
Bloodied champion retains his title again
Chris van Heerden, bleeding profusely from the nose and with blood all over his face, soldiered on to retain his South African welterweight title on Friday night.
He registered a deserved unanimous points decision over Boitshepo Mandawe.
Judges David van Niewenhuizen and Joseph Chaane both scored the fight 117-110 while Boitumelo Madiba's card read 116-111.
This was Van Heerden's second defence of his title. His slate is still clean after 13 fights, while the tough-as-nails Mandawe tasted defeat for the first time after 10 fights.
The challenger, ushered into the ring by trainers Jerry Phukuje and Benny Pailman, was very aggressive.
He threw heavy punches that broke van Heerden's nose in the fourth round. Blood made the ring look like an abattoir.
The fans were on their toes as van Heerden, who fought at home in Meyerton, almost spoiled it for Mandawe's fans who came in two minibuses from Soweto, when he began to use dirty tricks.
Van Heerden later boxed skillfully by using his elbows and shoulders.
Mandawe also made it easy for Van Heerden since he allowed his opponent to smother him.
Van Heerden's skills are honed by Nick Durandt.
Other results:
Bantamweight: Jason Kinnear beat Bright Zulu on points; Flyweight: Melikhaya Nketyana beat Mluleki Fukile on points; Lightweight: Charles Weyers bt Lucky Makhubela tko 2 (all these bouts were scheduled for 4 rounds); Welterweight (6 rds): Mthobisi Buthelezi bt Sello Letsoale on points while Kobus Mothloding was disqualified in round three against Michal van Heerden.
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