MZIMASI Mnguni delivered on the promise he made last week to bring Nkqubela "Ike" Gwazela, a supposed corpse, back to life at the expense of Klaas "Iron Man" Mboyane.
MZIMASI Mnguni delivered on the promise he made last week to bring Nkqubela "Ike" Gwazela, a supposed corpse, back to life at the expense of Klaas "Iron Man" Mboyane.
Mnguni, now a successful boxing promoter who produced more world champions than any local promoter when he was a trainer, silenced Mboyane's trainer Gert Strydom in the process.
"When you are dead, you are dead. We will put the final nail in his coffin," Strydom warned prior to the fight that was presented by Mnguni's Eyethu Boxing Promotions at Orient Theatre at the weekend.
But the supposed "corpse" was very much alive throughout 12 rounds. His gallant performance convinced all three ringside judges, who scored the fight 118-112, 118-111 and 117-113.
Gwazela, 30, the diminutive warrior from Mqanduli in Eastern Cape, sprang a surprise with this victory. We shared the general opinion that Gwazela had reached a cul-de-sac in his career and should retire. But Mnguni stood firm in his conviction that Gwazela was far from finished.
"I have brought so-called washed-up fighters back to the top before," he said with confidence before the grudge fight.
Mboyane from Limpopo stopped Gwazela in the 11th round in their first fight in August last year to win the national belt.
Mnguni was so convinced of a victory that even the death of Gwazela's trainer Mveleli Luzipho last week did not dampen his spirits.
But Strydom disagrees with the verdict.
"We were f***** by the referee, Simphiwe Mbini," he said yesterday.
"Gwazela held 37 times when in trouble but the referee did nothing and this was against the rules. We were supposed to win by a disqualification. This is a disgrace to boxing. If my boy loses, he must lose fair and square. Klaas will keep his chin up and bounce back."
Mnguni raises Gwazela from the dead
MZIMASI Mnguni delivered on the promise he made last week to bring Nkqubela "Ike" Gwazela, a supposed corpse, back to life at the expense of Klaas "Iron Man" Mboyane.
MZIMASI Mnguni delivered on the promise he made last week to bring Nkqubela "Ike" Gwazela, a supposed corpse, back to life at the expense of Klaas "Iron Man" Mboyane.
Mnguni, now a successful boxing promoter who produced more world champions than any local promoter when he was a trainer, silenced Mboyane's trainer Gert Strydom in the process.
"When you are dead, you are dead. We will put the final nail in his coffin," Strydom warned prior to the fight that was presented by Mnguni's Eyethu Boxing Promotions at Orient Theatre at the weekend.
But the supposed "corpse" was very much alive throughout 12 rounds. His gallant performance convinced all three ringside judges, who scored the fight 118-112, 118-111 and 117-113.
Gwazela, 30, the diminutive warrior from Mqanduli in Eastern Cape, sprang a surprise with this victory. We shared the general opinion that Gwazela had reached a cul-de-sac in his career and should retire. But Mnguni stood firm in his conviction that Gwazela was far from finished.
"I have brought so-called washed-up fighters back to the top before," he said with confidence before the grudge fight.
Mboyane from Limpopo stopped Gwazela in the 11th round in their first fight in August last year to win the national belt.
Mnguni was so convinced of a victory that even the death of Gwazela's trainer Mveleli Luzipho last week did not dampen his spirits.
But Strydom disagrees with the verdict.
"We were f***** by the referee, Simphiwe Mbini," he said yesterday.
"Gwazela held 37 times when in trouble but the referee did nothing and this was against the rules. We were supposed to win by a disqualification. This is a disgrace to boxing. If my boy loses, he must lose fair and square. Klaas will keep his chin up and bounce back."
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