THE future of Isaac "The Angel" Hlatshwayo hangs in the balance after he was given a controversial majority points decision against little-known Nku-luleko "Bulldog" Mhlongo on Saturday night.
Their non-title fight, a supposed mismatch, was part of a Branco Sports Productions event staged at the North West University Hall that was presented by urbane promoter Branco Milenkovic.
The first fight of the tournament, which saw Jackson Chauke stop Xolani Lukhuleni in the forth round, kicked off at 8pm while the Hlatshwayo-Mhlongo clash began after midnight. It was the perfect time for Hlatshwayo because that is believed to be when angels are hard at work.
But the verdict was booed by a larger part of the 2000-strong crowd. Hlatshwayo must thank judges Tony Nyangiwe and Sazi Xamlashe who scored the fight 75-76 in his favour, as well as referee Thabo Spampool who just refused to penalise Hatshwayo for constantly hitting below the belt.
Spampool cautioned Hlatshwayo more that three times. Female judge Sylvia Mokaila scored the fight 77-75 for Mhlongo, an overnight sensation who floored Hlatshwayo for the count in the first round.
Hlatshwayo, the former SA and IBO lightweight, IBO and IBF welterweight titlist, was a pale shadow of his former self. He was unfit and nothing was going for him.
Mhlongo, who is trained by Jabulani Malinga, showed total disrespect for Hlatshwayo over eight rounds.
Meanwhile, Bhekimpilo Mlilo was unrecognisable after Ndou beat him with a swagger in another fight on the same bill, forcing his trainer and father Ambrose Mlilo to throw in the towel in the fourth round.
The Zimbabwean paid a heavy price for boasting that Ndou's family would not recognise him after their fight.
"When a boy says you are finished, you must play with him but hit him so hard so that he warns others that you are not their peer," warned Ndou who improved his KO ratio to 32 from 32 wins.
In other results, Evans Mbamba beat Michael Ramabeletsa with a seventh-round TKO and Oscar Chauke beat Sabelo Nokhele (TKO 5).
Hlatshwayo had Angel on his side
THE future of Isaac "The Angel" Hlatshwayo hangs in the balance after he was given a controversial majority points decision against little-known Nku-luleko "Bulldog" Mhlongo on Saturday night.
Their non-title fight, a supposed mismatch, was part of a Branco Sports Productions event staged at the North West University Hall that was presented by urbane promoter Branco Milenkovic.
The first fight of the tournament, which saw Jackson Chauke stop Xolani Lukhuleni in the forth round, kicked off at 8pm while the Hlatshwayo-Mhlongo clash began after midnight. It was the perfect time for Hlatshwayo because that is believed to be when angels are hard at work.
But the verdict was booed by a larger part of the 2000-strong crowd. Hlatshwayo must thank judges Tony Nyangiwe and Sazi Xamlashe who scored the fight 75-76 in his favour, as well as referee Thabo Spampool who just refused to penalise Hatshwayo for constantly hitting below the belt.
Spampool cautioned Hlatshwayo more that three times. Female judge Sylvia Mokaila scored the fight 77-75 for Mhlongo, an overnight sensation who floored Hlatshwayo for the count in the first round.
Hlatshwayo, the former SA and IBO lightweight, IBO and IBF welterweight titlist, was a pale shadow of his former self. He was unfit and nothing was going for him.
Mhlongo, who is trained by Jabulani Malinga, showed total disrespect for Hlatshwayo over eight rounds.
Meanwhile, Bhekimpilo Mlilo was unrecognisable after Ndou beat him with a swagger in another fight on the same bill, forcing his trainer and father Ambrose Mlilo to throw in the towel in the fourth round.
The Zimbabwean paid a heavy price for boasting that Ndou's family would not recognise him after their fight.
"When a boy says you are finished, you must play with him but hit him so hard so that he warns others that you are not their peer," warned Ndou who improved his KO ratio to 32 from 32 wins.
In other results, Evans Mbamba beat Michael Ramabeletsa with a seventh-round TKO and Oscar Chauke beat Sabelo Nokhele (TKO 5).
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