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Fierce Seroka defends title in a one-way bout

BIG PUNISHER: Jasper Seroka, left, beat Wandile Mseleku during their South Africa junior lightweight at Nasrec Expo Centre. 08/03/2009. © Sowetan. Pic. Veli Nhlapo.
BIG PUNISHER: Jasper Seroka, left, beat Wandile Mseleku during their South Africa junior lightweight at Nasrec Expo Centre. 08/03/2009. © Sowetan. Pic. Veli Nhlapo.

Bongani Magasela

Bongani Magasela

Jasper Seroka brushed Wandile Mseleku aside in six one-sided rounds at Nasrec Arena on Friday night to retain the South African junior lightweight belt.

The belt was at stake for the first time since the champion from Phalaborwa won it on October 10 last year, when Seroka ended the reign of Godfrey Nzimande with a well executed coup. A similar and even more fierce exercise was executed against Mseleku.

Seroka, ushered to war by new trainer Gert Strydom, was so superior in every department that Mseleku had to spend the whole night covering up than fighting back.

Seroka took away Mseleku's confidence from the first round and chances of a surprise win were over within four rounds.

In that round Mseleku's left eye was closed completely and this writer expected trainers Thulani Magudulela and Elias Mchunu to save the kid for tomorrow.

But they did not. Even Dr Peter Chadderton, who inspected the damage during the temporarily stoppage in the fourth round, allowed it to continue.

This fight, the main bout in Branco Sports Production, became an eyesore as Mseleku ate more and more lather as it progressed.

Referee Amos Lusenga, who hates body blows, judging by his swift reaction when those punches are thrown, ended the brutality in the sixth round.

Seroka, who also holds the ABU belt, added his eight stoppage to 20 wins against a defeat while Mseleku, the Baby Champion and KwaZulu-Natal provincial champion, suffered his second defeat against seven victories and two draws.

Meanwhile Mthobisi Buthelezi looked a million dollar in his demolition of Tumelo Mabushe which lasted two minutes and 26 seconds into the first round.

Buthelezi remained undefeated after eight fights with five stoppages. Lucky Makhubela was unlucky to share spoils with Kyle Bothma over four rounds.

Makhubela seemed to have done enough to win that fight which was perfectly scored 39-37 by Gabo Sikhipha for Makhubela.

Garth Murray and Lusenga both scored it a draw at 38-38.

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