ALL THE years of being made to feel empty and hurt inside and all the heartbreak and pain with nothing to show for his honest labour and sweat has served as inspiration for Tshepang Mohale.

Finally Mohale prevailed in challenging for the South African super middleweight title in his second attempt on Friday night. It was a rematch between Mohale and Khotso Motau, the deposed champion, who blasted Mohale in seven rounds in May last year.

The unheralded Mohale, a former Gauteng light heavyweight holder, was not given even the slightest chance against the hugely talented Motau.

But Mohale was determined. He knows that Motau has a glass jaw. He hit it so hard that the lights went out three times and those 10-8 rounds enabled Mohale to score a unanimous points decision. It was his sixth win against two defeats.

"I'm excited," said the champion who was ushered to war by unheralded mentors Lehlohonolo Ledwaba and Eric Manganyi.

Mohale showed his intention early in the first round as he dropped Motau with a straight right to the button.

"The plan was to take him out early," said Mohale, who also dropped Motau in round nine and twice in round 10. Motau put Mohale down in round two, and had good rounds only in three and four. Motau dropped to three defeats from 16 fights.

Meanwhile, Mlungisi Dlamini chalked up the fourth defence of his WBF lightweight belt against Francisco Lorenzo, the Hungarian who failed to live up to expectations.

William Gare must thank his gods that his third defence of the WBF super middleweight strap was staged by a local promoter here or he would have kissed the title goodbye. As it is, he outpointed Mexican Rigoberto Alvares.

The least said about newly crowned WBF junior middleweight champion Bongani Mwelase the better. The fights were presented by Robs Promotions at the Mangaung Sports Centre in Bloemfontein.