Bongani Magasela

Bongani Magasela

Theatre of Marcellus at Emperors Palace rocked to the sound of leather-encased fists on Monday night at the Knockout Promotions box-and-dine tournament.

Promoter Philip Silver, Allan Young and Jeff Ellis had prepared 34 rounds of a boxing feat from seven bouts. Four were scheduled for four rounds, two for six rounds and the main bout for eight rounds.

But only two four rounders and the main attraction went the distance. Competitors in these fights engaged in 16 rounds of fine fighting.

Jeremy Holt, who had Rodney Nepfumbada's number, was just unlucky when he dislocated his right shoulder after sending Nepfumbada to the canvas towards the end of the second round.

Holt could not continue going into the third round and Nepfumbada was declared the winner of that welterweight fight. Hekkie Budler pulverised Petros Mahlangu into submission in one minute and 10 seconds into the first round of their junior flyweight fight that was scheduled for four rounds.

Basil Ray came back from the brink of defeat to flatten Noubissi Tongale of Cameroon in the third round of their heavyweight fight, which was scheduled for four rounds.

Grant Fourie outpointed John Mukhari over four rounds in the lightweight division.

Diners were treated to tremendous boxing between Rupert van Aswegan and Zimbabwe's Farai Musiiwa in the main fight.

It was a no-holds-barred slug fest that provided the usual electrifying boxing atmosphere. There were no knockdowns in this closely-contested eight rounder that was declared a draw.