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Ex-prisoner is one of the best

TOUGH: In what can only be described as a miss-match, Siphamandla Baleni [in blue] inflicted so much damage to Iviwe Mgema at the Indoor Centre on Sunday. Baleni stopped Mgema in fourth round Photo: MARK ANDREWS
TOUGH: In what can only be described as a miss-match, Siphamandla Baleni [in blue] inflicted so much damage to Iviwe Mgema at the Indoor Centre on Sunday. Baleni stopped Mgema in fourth round Photo: MARK ANDREWS

Former prisoner Luyanda Kana has mastered the art of match-making to such an extent that East London promoters are beating a path to his door, desperate to enlist his services.

Kana was one of 33 political prisoners pardoned by former president Thabo Mbeki in 2002. He has made a name for himself as one of boxing's most respected match-makers.

The 53-year-old father of two began life in boxing as a trainer while serving time at East London's Medium C Prison (kwaNongqongqo) but then decided to follow a career in match-making.

''I opted to follow match-making because there are enough trainers in Eastern Cape. I visit a lot of gyms and that is why I am able to put together exciting fights that the public wants to see. The rivalry and tensions between trainers and promoters do not affect me as I am on good terms with everybody," Kana said.

Fight fans will remember that Kana also trained Mzukisi Roberts, who infamously made headlines after sneaking out of the same prison in 2003 to fight in a professional boxing match without a licence. Roberts was serving a 10-year prison term for murder at the time and was accompanied to the fight by a prison warder.

He stopped Sabelo Nokhele in three rounds and was rushed back to his cell after the fight.

 

Kana put together an impressive nine-card bill that had fight fans at the edge of their seats at Mdantsane Indoor Sports Centre on Sunday. All fighters gave their all but the bout that stood head and shoulders above the rest was a Mthatha derby between Zama Zokwe and Siseko Makeleni.

It was an entertainment fest as a cautious Zokwe stuck to the basics, fighting from behind a right jab. Makeleni showed superiority in every department in the initial stages but ran out of steam in the sixth and final round.

He managed to survive and finish the fight but Zokwe had done enough to win the bout.

In the other bouts, Xolani Ngamtwini overwhelmed Mbulelo Nxazonke, dropping his opponent three times in the first round.

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